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Former Prime Ministers Chaudhary Charan Singh and PV Narasimha Rao, ex-Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur and agronomist MS Swaminathan were posthumously conferred with the country’s highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna, by President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday.
The awards were received by their immediate family members at a glittering investiture ceremony in Rashtrapathi Bhavan attended by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President JP Nadda and other dignitaries.
The government also announced Bharat Ratna for veteran BJP leader and former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani. It’s learnt that the President is likely to visit Advani’s residence to confer the award since he is physically incapacitated due to his age.
Former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh’s grandson and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) Chief Jayant Chaudhary receives Bharat Ratna from President Droupadi Murmu on behalf of his grandfather Chaudhary Charan Singh during the Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on Saturday. | Photo Credit: ANI
Jayant Singh, grandson of former PM Chaudhary Charan Singh, was overwhelmed at receiving the Bharat Ratna. “I have no words to express how happy I felt. Sitting there one slowly realises the importance of the moment. The message that the government of India has taken this decision (to confer Bharat Ratna on Chaudhary Charan Singh) in the interest of farmers has reached every farmer,” said Singh, who also heads the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) party. Last month, RLD joined the NDA to contest the Lok Sabha elections in alliance with the BJP in Western Uttar Pradesh.
A tall jat leader, Chaudhary Charan Singh, was PM briefly between July 28, 1979 and January 14, 1980. Twice he served as UP Chief Minister for the second time in February 1970, but his government fell after President’s Rule was imposed in the state on October 2, 1970. He is accredited with carrying out land reforms in the state. He began his political career with Congress and later formed his own party.
He died in 1987 at the age of 85.
President Droupadi Murmu confers Bharat Ratna on Former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao (posthumously) during the Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Saturday. His son, PV Prabhakar Rao, receives the award on behalf of his father. | Photo Credit: ANI
On receiving the Bharat Ratna for his late father, PV Narasimha Rao, Prabhakar Rao expressed his gratitude to Narendra Modi for bestowing honour on the former Prime Minister. “It’s not only for the family but also for the admirers and followers of Narasimha Rao on being chosen for the Bharat Ratna (posthumously). We extend our sincere gratitude to PM Narendra Modi for taking the initiative to bestow the country’s highest prize on PV Narasimha Rao,” he stated.
- Also read: PV Narasimha Rao is son of soil of Telangana: K Kavitha on decision to confer Bharat Ratna
Modi took to social media to praise Rao’s contribution to the “country’s progress and modernisation”. “Every Indian cherishes what PV Narasimha Rao Garu has done for our nation and feels proud that he has been conferred the Bharat Ratna. He worked extensively to further our country’s progress and modernisation. He is also known as a respected scholar and thinker. His contributions will forever be cherished,” he wrote on X.
Rao was the first PM from the South and outside the Gandhi family of Congress, serving from 1991 to 1996 at Raisina Hills. Often referred to as the Chanakya of Indian politics, he initiated economic liberalisation. He was born in Karimnagar district, now in Telangana, on June 28, 1921, and died at 83.
Former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur’s son Ram Nath Thakur receives Bharat Ratna from President Droupadi Murmu on behalf of his father Karpoori Thakur during the Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on Saturday. | Photo Credit: ANI
Similarly, Ram Nath Thakur, who received the Bharat Ratna for his late father Karpoori Thakur, said, “I am very happy. The government of India acknowledged his work and gave him this award. On behalf of the country, I express my gratitude towards PM Modi for conferring the highest civilian honour on him.”
Thakur was one of the greatest OBC leaders in Bihar who fought against social discrimination. He was Bihar chief minister from December 1970 to June 1971 and from December 1977 to April 1979. He was born in the most backward barber community on January 24, 1924.
President Droupadi Murmu confers Bharat Ratna on agriculture scientist Dr MS Swaminathan (posthumously) during the Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Saturday. His daughter, Dr Nitya Rao, receives the award on behalf of her father. | Photo Credit: ANI
On behalf of the late agricultural scientist Dr MS. Swaminathan, Bharat Ratna was received by his daughter, Dr Nitya Rao. He is widely acclaimed, among other things, for transforming India from a drought-stricken country in the 1960s to becoming self-sufficient in food grains in the 1970s.
PM Modi praised Swaminathan’s remarkable contributions to agriculture and said, “His efforts propelled India from struggle to self-sufficiency in food production. May the Bharat Ratna conferred on him inspire more people to take up research in agriculture and food security.”
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