Delhi, 9 February: Two former Prime Ministers of the country, Chaudhary Charan Singh and PV Narasimha Rao, and scientist Dr MS Swaminathan, the father of the Green Revolution, will be awarded the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian award. Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave this information through micro-blogging site X on Friday.
The Prime Minister wrote that it is the good fortune of our government that former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh is being honoured with the Bharat Ratna. This honor is dedicated to his incomparable contribution to the country. He had dedicated his entire life to the rights of farmers and their welfare. Be it the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh or the Home Minister of the country, even as an MLA, he always gave impetus to nation-building. He also stood firmly against the emergency. His dedication to our farmer brothers and sisters and his commitment to democracy during the emergency are inspiring to the entire nation.
He said that, as a distinguished scholar and statesman, Narasimha Rao served India extensively in various capacities. He is equally remembered for his work as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, union Minister, and Member of Parliament and Assembly for many years. His visionary leadership was instrumental in making India economically advanced, laying a solid foundation for the country’s prosperity and development. Narasimha Rao’s tenure as Prime Minister was marked by important measures that opened India to global markets, leading to a new era of economic growth. Furthermore, his contributions to India’s foreign policy, language, and education sectors underline his multifaceted legacy as a leader who not only led India through significant transformations but also enriched its cultural and intellectual heritage. .
Announcing Dr Swaminathan, he said that he played a vital role in helping India achieve self-reliance in agriculture during challenging times and made outstanding efforts towards modernising Indian agriculture. We also recognise his invaluable work as an innovator and mentor and for encouraging learning and research among many students. Dr. Swaminathan’s visionary leadership has not only transformed Indian agriculture but has also ensured the country’s food security and prosperity. He was someone he knew closely and always valued for his insight and input.
It is noteworthy that a few days ago, it was announced to give Bharat Ratna to two-time Chief Minister of Bihar Karpoori Thakur and former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani.
