NEW DELHI: Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Thursday brought together all the non-BJP leaders on one platform during the birth centenary celebration of his father and well-known freedom fighter Chaudhary Ranbir Singh.
The celebrations at Vigyan Bhavan was inaugurated by President Pranab Mukherjee and attended by leaders of all the non-BJP parties. Recalling Singh’s contribution to politics, the President said, “At the young age of 33 , Ranbir Singh was made a Member of the Constituent Assembly.
“I always found him present in Parliament and he used to listen to other members carefully. This is the first sign of being a good Parliamentarian.”
The political heavyweights, who attended the event, recalled Ranbir Singh’s contribution to freedom struggle and contribution to politics.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi along with several senior Congress leaders attended the event.
Manmohan emphasised that to free the country from communalism and fascism we should take inspiration from his life.
“Chaudhary Ranbir Singh’s life was full of sacrifices. At the age of 14, he went to the Congress Convention and was inspired to take part in the freedom struggle. In the Constituent Assembly he safeguarded the interest of farmers and supported their cause on the Minimum Support Price issue,” he said .
Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi’s message was read out by Congress Treasurer and MP Motilal Vohra. She said that Chaudhary Ranbir Singh had made invaluable contribution towards nation building.
NCP president Sharad Pawar, JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav, Left leader Sitaran Yechury, RLD chief Ajit Singh and SP general secretary Ramgopal Yadav also attended the function organised by the All India Freedom Fighters Association.
Reminiscing about his father, Hooda said, “Chaudhary Ranbir Singh is the only person to have served as a Member of seven different Legislative Houses and spent time in eight different jails during the freedom struggle. Out of these, four jails are today in India, and four in Pakistan.”