Last Updated: January 24, 2024, 07:49 IST
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar thanked PM Modi for conferring his mentor Karpoori Thakur with Bharat Ratna, posthumously. (Image: PTI/File)
The Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday announced that former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur will be awarded India’s highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna, posthumously
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the central government’s decision to confer former Bihar Chief Minister and socialist leader Karpoori Thakur with India’s highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna posthumously. Hailing the Centre’s decision, Kumar in a post on X said, “The years-old demand has been fulfilled today.”
“It is a matter of great pleasure to give the country’s highest honor ‘Bharat Ratna’ to former Chief Minister and great socialist leader Late Karpuri Thakur ji. This is a good decision of the Central Government. This highest honor given to Late Karpoori Thakur Ji on his 100th birth anniversary will create positive sentiments among the Dalits, deprived and neglected sections,” tweeted Nitish Kumar.
“We have always been demanding to give ‘Bharat Ratna’ to Late Karpoori Thakur ji. The years-old demand has been fulfilled today. Thanks to Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for this,” the Bihar Chief Minister added.
पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री और महान समाजवादी नेता स्व॰ कर्पूरी ठाकुर जी को देश का सर्वोच्च सम्मान ‘भारत रत्न’ दिया जाना हार्दिक प्रसन्नता का विषय है। केंद्र सरकार का यह अच्छा निर्णय है। स्व॰ कर्पूरी ठाकुर जी को उनकी 100वीं जयंती पर दिया जाने वाला यह सर्वोच्च सम्मान दलितों, वंचितों और…— Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) January 23, 2024
Interestingly, Nitish Kumar’s praise for PM Modi and the BJP-led central government came amid speculations that the Janata Dal (United) supremo, who is currently part of the INDIA bloc, might switch sides again and form an alliance with the saffron camp-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of the high-stakes Lok Sabha polls.
Thakur is considered a mentor to prominent Bihari leaders namely Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Ram Vilas Paswan and Devendra Prasad Yadav.
Bharat Ratna for Bihar’s Late CM Karpoori Thakur
The Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday announced that former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur will be awarded India’s highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna, posthumously. The socialist icon is recognised for his efforts to uplift the backward classes in Bihar.
“I am delighted that the Government of India has decided to confer the Bharat Ratna on the beacon of social justice, the great Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Ji and that too at a time when we are marking his birth centenary. This prestigious recognition is a testament to his enduring efforts as a champion for the marginalised and a stalwart of equality and empowerment,” Prime Minister Modi posted on X (formerly Twitter).
मुझे इस बात की बहुत प्रसन्नता हो रही है कि भारत सरकार ने समाजिक न्याय के पुरोधा महान जननायक कर्पूरी ठाकुर जी को भारत रत्न से सम्मानित करने का निर्णय लिया है। उनकी जन्म-शताब्दी के अवसर पर यह निर्णय देशवासियों को गौरवान्वित करने वाला है। पिछड़ों और वंचितों के उत्थान के लिए कर्पूरी… pic.twitter.com/hRkhAjfNH3— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 23, 2024
Karpoori Thakur, popularly known as ‘Jan Nayak’, was the pioneer in providing the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) with the benefit of reservation as he implemented the recommendations of the Mungeri Lal Commission during his tenure as Bihar Chief Minister from 1977 to 1979.
In addition to this, the socialist leader is also remembered for bringing the prohibition of alcohol in the state.
