Lucknow

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday paid homage to former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh on his death anniversary, describing him as a champion of farmers and recalling his major contributions to agriculture and land reforms in the country.

Offering floral tributes, the Chief Minister said Chaudhary Charan Singh devoted his life to the welfare of farmers and consistently advocated that the nation’s development depended on the progress of villages and the rural economy.

“Today is the death anniversary of Bharat Ratna Chaudhary Charan Singh, a great son of Mother India, former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, former Prime Minister and a true messiah of farmers. I pay my heartfelt tributes to him on behalf of the people of the state,” Adityanath said.

The Chief Minister noted that Charan Singh, who was born on December 23, 1902, actively participated in India’s freedom movement and later played a key role in shaping agricultural and revenue reforms.

He said the former Prime Minister always maintained that farmers must remain central to the country’s development agenda and government policies.

“Chaudhary Saheb believed that the path to India’s development passes through villages, farms and barns. Farmers should remain at the centre of policymaking and development initiatives,” Adityanath said.

He also mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had honoured Charan Singh with the Bharat Ratna in recognition of his immense contribution to the nation and the farming community.

Highlighting the state government’s initiatives to preserve Charan Singh’s legacy, Adityanath referred to several welfare programmes aimed at benefiting farmers. He specifically mentioned the development of the Chaudhary Charan Singh Seed Park in Lucknow.

“The Uttar Pradesh government is carrying forward many programmes to keep Chaudhary Saheb’s ideals and memories alive. Projects linked to farmers’ welfare, including the Chaudhary Charan Singh Seed Park in Lucknow, are an important part of this effort,” he said.

The Chief Minister added that Charan Singh’s contribution extended beyond politics and left a lasting impact on society through his work for rural communities and agricultural reforms.

Chaudhary Charan Singh served as India’s fifth Prime Minister from July 1979 to January 1980. During his political career, he also held several important portfolios, including Home and Agriculture.

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Among his major legislative contributions were the Redemption Bill of 1939, which provided relief to rural debtors, and the Land Holding Act of 1960, introduced during his tenure as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister to regulate land ceilings across the state.

Charan Singh passed away on May 29, 1987