The unanimous resolution passed by the Telangana Legislative Assembly proposing to the Central Government to confer the country’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, on the late former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, has only intensifying pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to posthumously be awarded the same on next Republic Day.
The Telangana assembly was convened to pay tributes to the late leader on Monday. Similar sentiments are being expressed from all over the country, across party lines. With the sympathy and appreciation expressed across the political spectrum for his honesty, simplicity and contribution to the economic growth of the country, the BJP-led NDA government seems to be in a delicate position to deny such suggestions.
As Singh’s coffin was bedecked with wreaths, chants of “Manmohan Singh ko Bharat Ratna do (give Manmohan Singh the Bharat Ratna)” went up, reflecting the deep respect many have for his contributions to India.
Several politicians, including Punjab Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa, Congress Rajya Sabha MP and general-secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh publicly demanded that Singh be honoured with the Bharat Ratna.
National unanimity seems to be generating in recognizing his transformative role in India’s economic reforms, particularly his stewardship in liberalising the economy in the 1990s as Finance Minister and his tenure as prime minister from 2004-14, had a lasting impact on India’s growth and global standing.
In Telangana Assembly, all the members, including BRS and BJP expressed solidarity with the demand to award Bharat Ratna to Manmohan Singh. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy made the demand for a Bharat Ratna while moving a condolence motion. The main opposition party BRS fully supported the demand for conferring Bharat Ratna on Singh. BRS leader K. T. Rama Rao said they believe that the late leader deserves the highest honour.
CM Revanth Reddy also suggested that a statue of the late PM be installed in the financial district in Hyderabad to honour his memory and in recognition of the close association he had with Telangana. He also recalled that it was at Mahabubnagar that as prime minister, Singh had launched the MGNREGS for 100 days of assured employment in a year.
Earlier, former Telangana chief minister and BRS chief K. Chandrashekar Rao emphasized the formation of Telangana, a historic milestone in Indian politics, occurred under Singh’s leadership, acknowledging his crucial support in the creation of the new state in 2014. KCR’s remarks underscore the pivotal role Singh played in ensuring that the process of bifurcating Andhra Pradesh to create Telangana was handled with care and consideration, paving the way for the state’s formation.