Janjati leaders meet Vice President Mohd Hamid Ansari & Defence Minister Antony

Balasaheb Deshpande birth centenary celebration begins in Delhi

Birth centenary celebration of Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram founder Balasaheb Deshpande formally began in Delhi on December 22. A formal inaugural function was held at Maharaja Agrasen Engineering College, Rohini. RSS Akhil Bharatiya Sah Sampark Pramukh Shri Ram Madhav and Kalyan Ashram Akhil Bharatiya Sah Mahila Pramukh Smt Ranjana Karandikar were present on the occasion. Former Police Commissinor of Delhi, Shri Radheshyam Gupta presided over the function. Noted industrialist Shri Ramkumar Basia and social activists Smt Savita Gupta and Smt Seema Relan were also present.

Shri Ram Madhav stressed the need to bridge the gap between the Vanvasis and the people living in cities. He said at the time when the cultural values are fast vanishing from the cities, the Vanvasis have preserved and nourished them. He also highlighted that how the innocent Vanvasis were exploited by  some foreign elements. He said the so-called civilised people are only ruining the environment in the name of development, but the Vanvasis are honestly preserving them.

Smt Ranjana Karandikar highlighted the journey of Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram and especially how Balasaheb Deshpande created the huge network at the ground. Apart from the speeches, some cultural activities were also displayed at the function. The function concluded with the singing of Vandemataram.

Growing Chinese intrusion in Arunachal Pradesh

After meeting the opposition leaders in Delhi, the 13-member delegation of Janjati leaders from Arunachal Pradesh met Vice President Mohd Hameed Ansari and Union Defence Minister AK Antony to apprise them of the threat posed by China in the frontiers of Arunachal Pradesh.

Both Vice President and Defence Minister expressed solidarity with the sentiments of the people of Arunachal Pradesh and assured them to do all the needful to check the intrusion and to keep the entire region peaceful. Shri AK Antony termed the patriotism of Arunachalis as ‘superb’. Mohd Hameed Ansari said the entire nation is equally concerned about the growing intrusion of China. He assured that the Govrnment of India would do all the needful to consolidate and strengthen our position in the North-East frontier.

The delegation included Arunachal Vikas Parishad president Shri Pratik Potom, vice-president Shri Techi Gubin, general secretary Shri Tarh Takia, district secretary Shri Sohan Krong, Shri Gyati Rana, publicity secretary of Indigenous Faith and Cultural Society of Arunachal Pradesh, state president of ABVP Smt Joram Anya Tana, national president of Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram Shri Jagdeoram Oraon, joint general secretary of Kalyan Ashram Shri Vishnu Kant, Shradha Jagaran Pramukh, NE Kalyan Ashram Shri Ramesh Babu, president Purvanchal Kalyan Ashram Shri Ranjit Bhattacharya, senior activists Smt Ratna Bhattacharya and Smt Anjali Ramesh.

The delegation stressed the need to compel China to issue regular Visa to the people of Arunachal Pradesh and certainly not the stappled visa. This will send signals not only to China or to rest of the world, but it will also help in taking the people of Arunachal Pradesh into confidence, which is utmost need of the hour.