Vice President addresses the 100th Birth Anniversary of Dattopanth Thengri

New Delhi: The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu said today that labourers and farmers contribute to economy not only through their hard work, but they also create demand in the economy as consumers. Therefore, it is necessary to increase their purchasing power to give a further fillip to the inclusive development.

Addressing the 100th Birth Anniversary function of Shri Dattopanth Thengri, in New Delhi today, Shri Naidu called for equal distribution of resources to create a stable and inclusive economy. Concentration of wealth in few hands leads to disbalance in economy and resentment in society, he said.

Highlighting that both capital and labour are important for wealth creation, the Vice President called for cooperation and harmony between the two. He also called for respecting every person who contributes to wealth creation, be it worker, manager or investor, as all of them have important roles the production chain.

Citing Mahatma Gandhi’s concept of Trusteeship, Shri Naidu said that wealth is not for individual luxury rather it is collectively owned by the community and should be used for the welfare of public.

On global economic changes, the Vice President said that in tandem with the global economy, we too are changing our economy. New legislative architecture is being created for a transparent, sustainable, efficient, high growth inclusive economy. Noting that India has the third largest pool of Start-ups, he said that new Start-up actors are emerging in our economy. He further said that we are witnessing constructive disruptions in the economy.

Calling Shri Dattopant Thengadi as a great intellectual and Karmyogi, Shri Naidu lauded that he built the most powerful nationalist trade union in the country. “It is remarkable that he never gave a call for bandh and also never made the trade union indulge in violence”, he said.

Talking of Fourth Industrial Revolution, the Vice President called upon the trade unions to prepare the workers and farmers for this new challenge. “Institutions like Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh and Bhartiya Kisan Sangh should spread awareness about various Government programs and should train the workers and farmers in new technologies”, he said.

Calling Shri Thengdi an inspirational person, Shri Naidu said that for him, nationalism was about taking views of all sections and their interests. “He never believed in class hatred and class wars and rendered the very notion of class itself as irrelevant”, he said.

Lauding various organisations created by Shri Dattopanth Thengri such as – Akhil Bhartiya Grahak Panchayat, Bhartiya Adhivakta Sangh and Sanskar Bharti, the Vice President said that democracy should not merely remain limited to casting of votes, rather people should be actively involved in national affairs. Such organizations help in giving constructive voice to people’s aspirations, he added.

Prof. Om Prakash Kohli, former Governor of Gujarat & President, Shri Dattopant Thengadi Janm Shatabdi Samaroh Samiti, Shri Dattatreya Hosabale, Joint General Secretary, Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, Shri Badri Narayan, General Secretary, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Shri C.K. Saji Narayanan, President, Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh and Shri Satish, Organizing Secretary, Swadeshi Jagran Manch were among the dignitaries present on the occasion.