New Delhi [India], October 11 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday paid tribute to socialist icon and Bharat Ratna Jayaprakash Narayan on his 123rd birth anniversary, remembering his contributions to strengthening the country's democratic structures by placing equality, social harmony, and justice above all.

'On the birth anniversary of Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan ji, the pioneer of democratic values, I pay my humble respects to him. Jayaprakash Narayan ji strengthened the country's democratic structure by placing equality, social harmony, and justice above all. During the Emergency, despite struggles and tortures, he protected democratic values and empowered the nation', the Union Home Minister posted on X in Hindi.

The Union minister further urged the social workers to espouse the values of the socialist icon, calling for people to be 'alert against dictatorial tendencies'.

'For the values for which Jayaprakash Narayan ji gave the call of 'Total Revolution', every social worker should lifelong alert the country against those dictatorial tendencies', his post read.

Jayprakash Narayan was born on 11 October 1902 in the village of Sitabdiara, Ballia district, United Provinces, British India (present-day Saran district, Bihar, India). Sitabdiara is a large village, straddling two states and three districts -- Saran and Bhojpur in Bihar and Ballia in Uttar Pradesh.

JP Narayan led the Janata Party, which formed the first non-Congress government in 1977 by uniting the entire Opposition against the corrupt and unjust rule that imposed the emergency.

A socialist and political leader, he is remembered for leading the mid-1970s opposition parties against Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, for whose overthrow he had called for a 'total revolution' (Sampoorna Kranti).

In 1999, he was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in recognition of his social service. Other awards include the 1965 Magsaysay Award for Public Service.

JP Narayan actively worked underground during the Independence struggle. While fighting against British rule, he organised an 'Azaad Dasta' (freedom brigade) in Nepal. (ANI)