Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced to confer former prime ministers PV Narasimha Rao and Chaudhary Charan Singh with the Bharat Ratna.
About Chaudhary Charan Singh
Charan Singh served as India’s fifth prime minister from 1979 to 1980. Hailing from Noorpur in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut, Singh has also served as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and the Home Minister of India.
He was a strong advocate for the cause of farmers and was the Minister for Agriculture and Forests (1962-63) in UP’s former CM Sucheta Kripalani’s Ministry.
“Be it the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh or the Home Minister of the country and even as an MLA, he always gave impetus to nation building. He also stood firm against the Emergency. His dedication to our farmer brothers and sisters and his commitment to democracy during the Emergency is inspiring to the entire nation,” PM Modi said.
About PV Narasimha Rao
The ninth prime minister of India, PV Narasimha Rao has been credited for heralding important economic reforms in the country.
He has also held important portfolios including the Ministry of Law and Information, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee.
Rao also served as India’s External Affairs Minister from January 14, 1980 to July 18, 1984.
“Narasimha Rao Garu’s tenure as Prime Minister was marked by significant measures that opened India to global markets, fostering a new era of economic development,” PM Modi said as he made the announcements on X, formerly Twitter.
Reaction on PM Modi’s announcement
Hailing PM Modi’s announcement, Rashtriya Lok Dal Chief Jayant Singh said, “Dil Jeet Liya”.
Supporting Modi’s big announcement, Congress Parliamentary Party president Sonia Gandhi said, “I welcome it.”
NV Subhash, grandson of PV Narasimha Rao and BJP leader said, “I feel very emotional because we have been expecting that the Bharat Ratna will be delayed. But due to the efforts of the BJP Telangana…As a family member, I thank the BJP Telangana also for making this a grand success and the dream come true…”
With inputs from agencies
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PM Modi announces Bharat Ratna for former PMs Narasimha Rao, Charan Singh
