Hyderabad:

Following the Telangana Assembly’s passing of a resolution seeking the Bharat Ratna for late former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader KT Rama Rao urged the state government to persuade the Central government to establish a memorial for former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao in the national capital.

Mr Rao said, “Dr Manmohan Singh was a great economist and is respected across party lines. Our party supported the resolution passed in the Assembly today. We also appreciate the government’s move to install a statue of Dr Singh here. However, we remind the Congress government in Telangana that the only Prime Minister who served India honourably and brought in significant reforms was PV Narasimha Rao. Unfortunately, he is the only late Prime Minister who does not have a memorial in the national capital. We have demanded that the state government also pass a resolution in the Assembly to honour PV Narasimha Rao and urge the Union government to set up a memorial for him.”

He alleged that the state government was avoiding discussions about PV Narasimha Rao due to political compulsions. Rao said, “He is a son of the soil, from Telangana. We hope the Union government will take notice of this demand and set up a memorial, along with what they are doing for former PM Manmohan Singh.”

Earlier, BRS MLC K Kavitha on Monday slammed Congress for “disrespecting” former PM PV Narasimha Rao by not conducting his last rites in Delhi.

“It is a well-known fact that the Congress government has ignored PV Narasimha Rao and disrespected him. They did not conduct his last rites in Delhi. In Telangana, we have respected him. We celebrated his birth centenary. We built a huge memorial here in Hyderabad. However, as a former Prime Minister, I believe PV Narasimha Rao should have his memorial (in Delhi),” Kavitha told ANI.
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A war of words has broken out between political parties over the cremation of Manmohan Singh at Delhi’s Nigambodh Ghat with Congress leaders criticising the central government for allegedly disrespecting Dr Singh by performing his last rites at Nigambodh Ghat instead of Rajghat.

The Congress claimed that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to hold the ceremony at Rajghat, but they refused, showing “narrow-mindedness” and “hatred” towards the former PM.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Sunday accused the Congress party of “creating” a controversy over the demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and building a memorial for him. He highlighted that former PM Narasimha Rao’s body wasn’t even brought to the AICC headquarters.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

In a heartfelt tribute to the late industrialist Ratan Tata, RPG Group Chairman Harsh Goenka shared a picture of a handwritten note, penned by Ratan Tata in 1996, addressed to former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao. In a letter, Mr Tata expressed his respect for Mr Rao’s “outstanding achievement” in heralding much-needed economic reforms in India.

Former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao is often called the ‘Father of Indian Economic Reforms’ for changing the face of India’s economy in 1996 and leading it on the path of recovery and transformation.

Lauding Mr Rao for making India, a part of the global community, Mr Tata wrote, “Every Indian should owe you a debt of gratitude for the courageous and far-sighted “opening up” of India.”

The letter serves as a reminder of Mr Tata’s unwavering commitment to India’s progress.

While sharing the letter, Mr Goenka wrote, “Beautiful writing from a beautiful person….”

Beautiful writing from a beautiful person…. pic.twitter.com/AOxJPmVqNL

— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) October 15, 2024

Read the letter:

August 27, 1996

Dear Mr. Narasimha Rao,

As I read the recent spate of unkind references to you, I felt compelled to write you to tell you that while others’ memories may be short, I will always recognize and respect your outstanding achievement in heralding much-needed economic reforms in India. You and your government put India on the world map in an economic sense and made us part of a global community. Every Indian should owe you a debt of gratitude for the courageous and far-sighted “opening up” of India. I believe personally that your achievements are momentous and outstanding – and they should never be forgotten.

The purpose of this letter is just to tell you that my thoughts and best wishes are with you at this time, and that you can have at least one person who has not, and will never, forget what you have done for India.

With warm personal regards,

Yours sincerely,

Ratan

The letter categorically calls it out as “personal”. It was written on August 27, 1996, on a sheet of paper from Bombay House, the head office of Tata Group.

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the contributions of those conferred the Bharat Ratna on Saturday by President Droupadi Murmu, paying rich tributes to former prime ministers P V Narasimha Rao and Charan Singh besides other luminaries.

“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 modernization. He is also known as a respected scholar and thinker. His contributions will forever be cherished,” PM Modi said on X.

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 modernization. He is also known as a respected scholar and thinker. His contributions… pic.twitter.com/gyZmXYTL0n

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 30, 2024

He said the Bharat Ratna for Mr Singh is a recognition of his contributions to India’s development, particularly in agriculture and rural development.

“I am sure this honour will inspire future generations to uphold the values of hard work, dedication and public service that he epitomized,” he said.

Chaudhary Charan Singh Ji’s Bharat Ratna is a recognition of his contributions to India’s development, particularly in agriculture and rural development. I am sure this honour will inspire future generations to uphold the values of hard work, dedication and public service that he… pic.twitter.com/ujx3naWMwX

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 30, 2024

The country’s highest civilian award for Karpoori Thakur is a fitting tribute to a stalwart who dedicated his life to social justice and equality, the prime minister said.

Known as a champion of the downtrodden, Mr Thakur’s contributions to the uplift of the marginalized and his relentless fight for the rights of the backward classes have left an indelible mark on the fabric of Indian society, he said.

“The Bharat Ratna to him highlights the values of inclusivity and compassion that are essential to the nation’s ethos,” he said.

The Bharat Ratna for Karpoori Thakur Ji is a fitting tribute to a stalwart who dedicated his life to social justice and equality. Known as a champion of the downtrodden, his contributions to the upliftment of the marginalized and his relentless fight for the rights of the… pic.twitter.com/DPcfloiOcH

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 30, 2024

Referring to agronomist M S Swaminathan, PM Modi described him as a revered figure in the world of agriculture who is widely admired for his pioneering work and research in the field of genetics and agricultural science.

He 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.”

Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, a revered figure in the world of agriculture, is widely admired for his pioneering work and research in the field of genetics and agricultural science. His efforts propelled India from struggle to self-sufficiency in food production. May the Bharat Ratna… pic.twitter.com/GpaaMtjXA8

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 30, 2024

All the four stalwarts were bestowed the honour posthumously. Their family member received the honour for them.

Veteran BJP leader L K Advani is the only living person among the recipients of the honour this year. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)