On Thursday that is today, for the first time at all India level Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to address cooperators at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi. The occasion is the Birth Centenary of Laxmanrao Inamdar- a cooperator who few would have known had Modi not been the Prime Minister of the country.
The lucky ones who would share dais with Prime Minister include Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, Union Ministers of State for Agriculture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Krishna Raj and Sahakar Bharati President Jyotindra Mehta, among others. Parshottam Rupala would not be able to attend as he has gone abroad on official tour, adds source.
Except Mehta there is hardly a cooperator who would share dais with the Prime Minister. “Mehta too would be there because he is the President of Sahakar Baharati”- the host of the show, quipped an observer. Several union ministers may also join including Nitin Gadkari and Suresh Prabhu.
Modi has, so to say, not only resurrected Inamdar but given him his due, feel those who have known Inamdar. Even the author of the book on Inamdar S K Sharma, a non-RSS man says “the man was an unsung cooperative soldier”. Inamdar was forgotten largely because of his connection to RSS by the media which is generally left-leaning, said an observer.
The program at Vigyan Bhawan would start at 10 am amidst tight security. The list of invitees has been vetted finally by the PM security. About 2000 invitations have gone- most of them from Sahakar Bharati and some three hundred from NCUI.
Majority of top cooperative leaders from across the country have already arrived in the town to hear PM speak on co-ops. Cooperative ministers of more than 20 states are likely to be present on the occasion. States Registrars from across the nation have also arrived in the Capital to be part of the event.
In the run-up to the event, those who must be complemented for their efforts include the Union Minister Radha Mohan Singh who has taken personal interest in the event, Sahakar Bharati patron Satish Marathe, NCDC Joint MD Mr D N Thakur, NCUI Chief Executive N Satyanarayan and of course Additional Secretary Mrs Upama Srivastava.
A short film on Laxmanrao Inamdar will be played on the occasion in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On Wednesday, prior a day to the main event, Sahakar Bharati gave a presentation before the ministry.
In a press release the govt explains the purpose of this event ”To celebrate 100 years of Shri Laxman Madhav Rao Inamdar ji and to laud and reiterate the importance of cooperative movement. It also talks of releasing two books-one one Shri Laxman Rao Inamdar Ji and second on nine important leaders of cooperative movement in India.
The function would also recognize the excellent work done by seven cooperatives in their respective fields by giving certificates and mementoes.
The Prime Minister will address the gathering at sharp 11:00 A.M, adds source.
