PM Modi pays tributes to socialist icon Lohia on birth anniversary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid tributes to socialist icon Ram Manohar Lohia on his birth anniversary, saying he is widely respected for his principled politics and intellectual prowess.

Born in 1910, Lohia was a freedom fighter and Gandhian before he became a pioneer for the political empowerment of underprivileged communities and worked to unite opposition parties against the then hegemony of the Congress.

He is credited with the first phase of the rise of anti-Congress forces in the early 60s. He died in 1967.

Paying homage to him, Modi tweeted, ”Remembering Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia on his birth anniversary. He was at the forefront of many historical events and played a key role in our freedom struggle. He is widely respected for his principled politics and intellectual prowess.” The prime minister also posted on Twitter some correspondence involving Lohia, considered an intellectual giant.

He tweeted, ”Some interesting nuggets from the pages of history…a letter from Dr. Lohia to Lord Linlithgow and correspondence between Dr. Lohia’s father and him.”