Lokmanya brings PM, Oppn together

NEW DELHI: Great Maharashtrian leader Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak brought together Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and Leader of Opposition LK Advani, on his 150th birth anniversary on Sunday at Parliament House.

It is a rare thing during the inter-session for the Prime Minister or a senior leader from the government to make it to a manifestation programme at Parliament.

But Sunday was different. Thanks to a letter written by Advani to the Prime Minister on July 20, reminding him of 150th anniversary of Tilak, that at a meeting held at Prime Minister's residence on Saturday evening, it was decided that not only will the PM visit the Central Hall at Parliament House on Sunday morning, but he would be the chief guest at a hurriedly-organised official function in his honour at Tilak Marg on Sunday evening.

Advani had written to the Prime Minister that "you will certainly agree that Tilak was one of the tallest leaders of India's freedom movement. You will also agree that the 150th anniversary of his birth is an important enough occasion for the nation - both the government and the people - to remember and honour this great son of Bharat Mata. In such matters, it is the responsibility of the government of the day to take the lead and chalk out a befitting commemorative programme.

The purpose of doing so is to show the nation's gratitude to a person who, at a very difficult time in the history of the freedom movement, rekindled the flame of nationalism with the battle-cry — Swaraj is my birthright."

And the Prime Minister duly obliged.