A great loss to country and Lok Satta - Dr. JP on L. C. Jain’s demise

Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan said today that the country and the Lok Satta movement had suffered a great loss in the demise of Mr. L. C. Jain. “Personally, I have lost a formidable colleague, great friend, and mentor.”

Conveying his deep condolences to Mrs. Devaki Jain, Dr. JP said in a media statement that Mr. L. C. Jain was reputed for his uncompromising idealism, indomitable will, unflinching courage, and eloquent expression. Under the tutelage of Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, Mr. L. C. Jain fought for preserving and promoting the Indian handicrafts industry and millions of artisans dependent on it.

Mr. L. C. Jain, Dr. JP recalled, was an ardent champion of decentralization of power. He was with the Lok Satta when it mobilized one crore signatures seeking empowerment of local Governments.

He campaigned for liberating cooperative societies from the corrupt and exploitative Government machinery. At the request of the Lok Satta, Mr. L. C. Jain appeared before the State Assembly committee and tendered advice when the TDP proposed an unconstitutional law on cooperatives. The TDP Government dropped the proposal and enacted a liberal law later on.

Mr. L. C. Jain, who stood for liberty and democracy, fought against the Emergency in 1975. A Gandhian, all through his life, Mr. L. C. Jain mounted a sustained and passionate struggle for a just and humane society for two generations after Independence.