Lokbandhu

RAJ NARAIN

RAJ NARAIN -Raj Narain son of Shri Anant Prasad Singh, was born on Kartik Akshaya Navamiof 1917 in a Bhumihar Brahmin family of Uttar Pradesh. He was born in the village namedMotikoat, Gangapur in Varanasi. He was from the Royal family of Varanasi and directlyassociated with the family of Maharaja Chet Singh and Maharaja Balwant Singh, who werekings of Varanasi, over a century back. He was Educated at Banaras Hindu University, and didM.A. and LL.B,.A Political and Social worker he organized a school for adults, a girls school, a study centreand a labour organization and became member of Congress Socialist Party, in 1934, andNational Committee of Students Federation, 1939-44.He was President of the BanarasUniversity Mandal Congress Committee and Member of District CongressCommittee(D.C.C.).He was a great freedom fighter. He was president of Student Congress during 1942revolution, and lead the revolution in and around Varanasi district in UP. The protest andrevolution under his leadership on August 9, 1942, is considered as one of the best in thecountry. He was so active in freedom struggle that British government wanted to get hold ofhim and hence ordered, in 1942, a prize of Rs. 5000/- to anybody who can get him "Dead oralive”. Initially he was “underground” for three months and later arrested on September 28,1942, during Quit India Movement and detained till 1945.When country got independence Raj Narain joined Socialist Party led by Acharya NarendraDeva, Jayprakash Narayan and Dr Rammanohar Lohia and held many party positionsincluding Secretary Ship, of UP Socialist Party, 1948-51. He was very close to his GuruAcharya Narendra Deva and Dr. Rammanohar Lohia. Dr. Lohia described him as "a personwho has heart of a lion and practices of Gandhi". Dr. Lohia admired him a lot, and even saidthat "if in India there could be just three or four persons like him, dictatorship can nevershadow the democracy”. He was one of the pillars of Socialist movement in India and holds arecord for going jail the maximum number of times in connection with students' and socialistmovements.He was jailed 80 times, spending a total time of nearly 17 years in jail in hislifespan of 69 years.He was elected to Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 1952. He was first "Leader ofOpposition" of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly after independence, and his second termended in the year 1962.He was Member, Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, 1952-1962.Member NationalExecutive, PSP, 1954-55. Chairman, Socialist Party,1961-64.Member Rajya Sabha, 1966-72and 1974-77.Associated with CSP,1934-48, Socialist Party, 1948-52, Praja SocialistParty,1952-1955.Socialist Party,1956-64.Samyukta Socialist Party,1964-72.Socialist Party,1971-72, Socialist Party(Lohia) 1972-74, Bhartiya Lok Dal, 1974-77.Janata Party, 1977-79,Janata Party (S), 1979-80. Democratic Socialist Party, 1981-83.Janata Party, 1983-84, andSocialist Party 1984 till his death in 1986. Raj Narain contested against Prime Minister IndiraGandhi, in 1971 Lok Sabha elections from Rai Bareli, as an SSP Candidate, although hesuffered a defeat from her in 1971 elections but he accused Indira Gandhi of corruptelectoral practices and filed an election petition against her. The Allahabad High Court on 12June 1975 upheld the accusations and set aside the election of Indira Gandhi and alsodisqualified her to contest Lok Sabha election for next 6 years. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 2 Page 2 of 5Raj Narain was arrested and imprisoned during Emergency, June 1975 to February; 1977.Hewas elected to Lok Sabha in 1977 general elections and defeated then Prime Minister IndiraGandhi with the margin of more than fifty thousand votes. He Became Minister of Healthand Family Welfare in March, 1977.Imprisoned 58 times for a period totaling about 15 yearsin connection with students' and socialist movements. He was married and had three Sonsand one daughter. Raj Narain passed away on 31stDecember 1986, at 23:55 hrs at Dr. RamManohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi; the name which again shared its association with himafter his death.A commemorative stamp was released on him by the former Vice President of India, BhaironSingh Shekhawat on 23 March, 2007.Special interests: Political and social work, yoga, Indian culture and philosophy.Rajnarain published ‘Kesari’-a weekly from Varanasi and has been on the editorial board of‘Jan’ a monthly established by Dr Rammanohar Lohia.BOOKS BY RAJNARAINTowards a new health policy, by Raj Narain. 1977-8 pages. POPLINE Document Number:783545. Author(s): NARAIN R. Source citation: New Delhi, India, Department of FamilyWelfare, www.popline.org/ docs/ 0299/ 783545.html.Raj Narains Heath policy mentioned in "Practicing health for all", by David Morley, Jon E.Rohde, Glen Williams. Oxford University Press, 1983 - Medical - 333 pages.Raj Narains Heath policy mentioned in "India: health care patterns and planning", by RaisAkhtar.2004-343 pages. On page no.45 Raj Narain, were ideologically inclined towards de-professionalization, decentralization, and indigenous systems of medicine. The Janata partymanifesto mentioned community health workers, and Raj Narain adopted it as a personalcommitment (Leslie, 1985).BOOKS ON RAJNARAINApaat Kaal Ka Dhoomketu: Rajnarain. Author:YUGESHWAR .The New Yorker: Volume 56, Issues 1-8, 1980.Although Raj Narain is married and has fourchildren, he long ago abandoned his family for celibacy and a ... No one is ever sure whetherRaj Narain is expressing a genuine belief or saying something merely to attract attention.A family affair: India under three prime ministers. Ved Mehta - 1982 - 166 pages. The mainproject that Raj Narain had put forward as Janata Health Minister was a scheme to haveeach village select a ... Raj Narain's critics contended that his scheme would not onlymisappropriate meagre resources but also debase...Raj Narain, by Lambert M Surhone, Mariam T Tennoe, Susan F Henssonow.VDM Verlag Dr.Mueller AG & Co. Kg, 2010-88 pages.High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Raj Narain(1917 - December 31, 1986) was an Indian politician who, as a candidate of Janata Party forthe Lok Sabha in 1977, ran for office in Rae Bareli constituency and defeated Indira Gandhi,the then Prime Minister of India. He was the Minister of Health during Morarji Desai'sministry and a commemorative stamp was released in his honor by the former VicePresident of India, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. Raj Narain was the only politician who -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 3 Page 3 of 5defeated Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India, in the 1977 Lok Sabha elections inRai Bareli. (Although he was defeated by her in 1971 elections.) Raj Narain accused IndiraGandhi of election fraud and filed an election petition against her. The Allahabad High Court,on 12 June 1975, upheld the accusations and set aside the election of Indira Gandhi and alsodisqualified her from running in the Lok Sabha elections for next 6 years.POLITICAL ASSOCIATION OF SHRI RAJNARAINAssociated with Congress Socialist Party (CSP), 1934-48.Inspector of Congress Socialist Party, 1946.District Secretary, Congress Socialist Party (SP), 1946.Member Socialist Party (SP), 1948-52.Secretary, Uttar Pradesh Socialist Party (SP), 1948-51.Convener, ‘Janvani Diwas’ of Socialist Party in Delhi, on 9th June 1951.Member Praja Socialist Party (PSP), 1952-1955.Member, Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, 1952-1962.Member National Executive, PSP, 1954-55.Member Socialist Party, 1956-64. (From 1st Jan. 1956 to 9th June 1964)Chairman, Socialist Party, 1961-64.Joined SSP after the merger of PSP and SP.Member Samyukta Socialist Party (SSP), 1964-72. (9th June 1964 to 12, April 1972)General Secretary Samyukta Socialist Party (SSP), 1964-66.Member Rajya Sabha, 1966-72. (As SSP Candidate)Member Socialist Party, 1971-72. (After the merger of PSP & SSP)Revived Socialist Party (Lohia), in 1972 and was its Member, 1972-74.Merged SSP (Lohia) into BKD in 1974 and formed Bhartiya Lok Dal.Member Bhartiya Lok Dal, 1974-77.Member Rajya Sabha, 1974-77. (As BLD Candidate)Formed Janata Party in 1977 after the merger of BLD, Bhartiya Jansangh, Congress (O),Socialist Party and Congress for Democracy (CFD)Member Janata Party, 1977-79,Member 6th Lok Sabha, 1977-79. (Defeated Indira Gandhi in 1977)Member Union Cabinet as Health & Family Welfare Minister. (1977-78).Expelled from Union Cabinet in 1978 and from Janata Party in 1979.Formed Janata Party (S) under the leadership of Charan Singh in 1979.Working President Janata Party (S), 1979-80.Joined Democratic Socialist Party, 1981-83.(Under the Chairmanship of H N Bahuguna).Joined Janata Party, 1983-84. (Under Chairmanship of Chandra Shekhar).Contested against former Prime Minister Charan Singh, in 1984 Lok Sabha elections fromBaghpat (U.P.)Formed Socialist Party in 1985, and was associated with this party till his death in 1986.SHRI RAJ NARAIN vs. SMT. INDIRA NEHRU GANDHI ANDANR.was a 1975 case heard by the Allahabad High Court that found the then-PrimeMinister of India, Indira Gandhi guilty of electoral malpractices. Ruling on the case that hadbeen filed by the defeated opposition candidate Raj Narain, Justice Jagmohanlal Sinhainvalidated Indira's win and barred her from holding elected office for six years. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 4 Page 4 of 5ORDERElection petition:In view of my findings on issue no. 3 (first set) issue no. 1 (first sd) read with Additional Issueno. 1, Additional Issue no. 2 and Additional Issue no. 3, this petition is allowed and theelection of Srimati Indira Nehru Gandhi, respondent no 1, to the Lok Sabha is declaredvoid.The respondent no. 1 has been found guilty of having committed a corrupt practiceunder section 123(7) of the Representation of the People Act by having obtained theassistance of the Gazetted Officers of the State Government of U. P. viz. the DistrictMagistrate, Rae Barell, the Superintendent of Police, Rae Bareli, the Executive Engineer,P.W. D., Rae Bareli, Engineer, Hydel Department, Rae Bareli,, in furtherance of her electionprospects in the manner indicated my finding on issue no. 2.She has further been found guilty of having committed another corrupt practice undersection 123(7) of the Representation of the People Act by having obtained the assistance ofSri Yashpal Kapur, a Gazetted Officer in the Government of India, holding the post of Officeron Special Duty in the Prime Minister's Secretariat, for the furtherance of her electionprospects in the manner indicated in my finding on Issue no. 1 read with Additional Issue no.1. The respondent no. 1 accordingly stands disqualified for a period of six years from thedate of this order, as provided in section 8-A of the Representation of the People Act. Thepetitioner shall get his costs of the election petition from the respondent no. 1. A table ofcosts shall be prepared by the officer accordance with rule 30 Chapter XV of the Rules ofCourt.Writ petition:As already pointed out while recording my findings on Issue no. 9, the petitioner has notbeen able to lay any foundation on facts to compel an inquiry into the constitutionality ofthe Representation of the People (Amendment) Ordinance 1974 (No.XIII of 1974) or that ofthe Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 1974 (Act no. 58 of 1974).The writ petition no. 3761 of 1975 is accordingly rejected. The parties shall bear their owncosts in the writ petition. Petition allowed. The decision caused a political crisis in India thatled to the imposition of a state of emergency by Indira's government from 1975 to 1977.[5]Raj Narain had contested the Indian general election, 1971 against Indira Gandhi, whorepresented the constituency of Rae Bareilly in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the IndianParliament. Indira was re-elected from Rae Bareilly by a two-to-one margin of the popularvote, and her Indian National Congress (R) party won a sweeping majority in the IndianParliament. Raj Narain filed a petition to appeal the verdict, alleging that Indira Gandhi usedbribery, government machinery and resources to gain an unfair advantage in contesting theelection. Narain specifically charged Indira of using government employees as electionagents and for organising campaign activities in the constituency while still on the payroll ofthe government. On June 12, 1975 Justice Jagmohanlal Sinha found Indira Gandhi guilty ofelectoral malpractices. Sinha declared the election verdict in the Rae Bareilly constituency"null and void," and barred Indira from holding elected office for six years. While Sinha haddismissed charges of bribery, he had found Indira guilty of misusing government machineryas a government employee herself. The court order gave the Congress (R) twenty days tomake arrangements to replace Indira in her official posts. Indira appealed the verdict to theSupreme Court of India, which granted a conditional stay of execution on the ruling on June24, 1975.On November 7, 1975 the Supreme Court of India formally overturned theconviction. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 5 Page 5 of 5The verdict was criticised by many, including the country's largest English newspaper, TheTimes of India, which compared the verdict to "firing the Prime Minister for a trafficticket".The Congress (R) also staged numerous protests across the country in support ofIndira. However, the verdict helped galvanize the opposition political parties, whodemanded that Indira Gandhi resign from office immediately. Jayaprakash Narayan, theleader of the Janata Morcha, a coalition of opposition political parties, called for a campaignof civil disobedience to oust Indira's government.On June 26, 1975 a state of emergency wasdeclared by the President of India Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, upon the advice of Prime MinisterIndira Gandhi.The government argued that the political disorder was a threat to national security.Usingthe sweeping powers granted by the Emergency decree, thousands of opposition leadersand activists were arrested, press censorship was introduced and elections were postponed.During this period, Indira Gandhi's Congress (R) used its parliamentary majority to amendthe Indian Constitution and overwrite the law that she had been found guilty of violating.When the government finally called elections in 1977, the opposition Janata Party alliancedefeated Indira Gandhi's Congress (R) party. Raj Narain defeated Indira Gandhi in the RaeBareilly constituency by a margin of 55,200 votes.State of Uttar Pradesh v. Raj NarainIndira Nehru Gandhi Vs Shri Raj NarainSHRI RAJ NARAIN Vs. SMT. INDIRA NEHRU GANDHI AND ANR 8Unlike · · Share. .