Hon'ble Prime Minister releases stamp on Lala Jagat Narain

 NEW DELHI: A commemorative stamp in the memory of freedom fighter and veteran journalist Lala Jagat Narain, who was gunned down 32 years back for opposing terrorism in Punjab, was released by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here on Monday.

Releasing the Rs 5 denomination stamp at his residence, Singh said journalists should be honest, fearless and neutral while performing their duty, even in trying circumstances.

The stamp was released in presence of a host of dignitaries, including Union ministers, chief ministers of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh and Punjab deputy chief minister besides editor-in-chief and CEO of Punjab Kesari newspaper, Vijay Chopra.

Singh said Jagat Narain, in his career as a journalist, had opposed efforts to control the media and "his fearlessness is an example".

Highlighting that Jagat Narain had opposed terrorists and had to pay with his life, the Prime Minister said he had left an important message on the role of media — "a journalist should be honest, fearless and neutral while performing duty, even in trying circumstances".

The veteran journalist was shot dead near Ludhiana on this day in 1981 when terrorism in Punjab was at its peak.

Singh recalled that Jagat Narain left his studies at the age of 21 and joined the Non-Cooperation Movement on the appeal of Mahatma Gandhi.

Even in jail, he contributed to the freedom struggle by working as a secretary to Lala Lajpat Rai, he said.

He was again jailed for three years for participating in the Quit India Movement and spent a total of nine years behind the bars during the freedom struggle.

He said the three newspapers published by his Hind Samachar Group have a daily readership of over 33 lakh.

BJP leader LK Advani, information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari, Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh, Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, former law minister Ashwani Kumar and former IPS officer KPS Gill were among those who were present on the occasion.

Source : TOI