Coming out in praise of the BJP-NDA Government at the Centre over its decision to confer the Bharat Ratna on five towering stalwarts and national icons, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on February 10 said the weight and prestige of India’s highest civilian honour have grown manifold.
Late former Prime Ministers Chaudhary Charan Singh and Narasimha Rao, BJP stalwart and former deputy PM L K Advani, the harbinger of India’s Green Revolution, M S Swaminathan, and late two-time Bihar Chief Minister and a champion of social justice, Dr Karpoori Thakur, will be conferred with the country’s highest prize later this year.
In an interview with the media, when asked if there has been a delay in giving these towering leaders and personalities the country’s highest prize, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said the pain felt by the delay in awarding them has now been wiped out.
#WATCH | When asked if there is a message behind the choice of people being honoured with Bharat Ratna and Padma awards now, VP Jagdeep Dhankhar says, "Our cultural heritage is 5000 years old. In these 5000 years, some moral values have been established, some standards have been… pic.twitter.com/5U78iQfS3z
— ANI (@ANI) February 10, 2024
“There was an opportunity, they (earlier Governments) should have given the award. With this step of the Government – due to which the Government and Prime Minister should be thanked – the honour of Bharat Ratna has been enhanced. The weightage of Bharat Ratna has been enhanced. When Padma awards were given earlier, how was it perceived? When Padma awards are given today, people say in one voice, “Sahi Mila”…When such a personality (Chaudhary Charan Singh) has been awarded the Bharat Ratna with such delay, it hurts a little. But that pain has subsided today. Today, Chaudhary Sahab received Bharat Ratna, and you can imagine that crores of farmers and villagers will have a sound sleep,” the Vice President said.
#WATCH | Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar speaks on the delay in awarding Bharat Ratna for Chaudhary Charan Singh, PV Narasimha Rao and MS Swaminathan
He says, "There was an opportunity, they (earlier governments) should have given the award. With this step of the government -… pic.twitter.com/GRIzxeBm2r
— ANI (@ANI) February 10, 2024
“No one should have any doubt about whether these five leading stalwarts should be honoured with the country’s highest prize. Look at these four gems, proud sons of the soil. All four of them–Chaudhary Charan Singh, M S Swaminathan, Dr Karpoori Thakur, and P V Narasimha Rao–could have received this honour much earlier. Be that as it may, the decision by the Government today has further enhanced the profile and prestige of this award,” Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar added.
#WATCH | Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar speaks on Bharat Ratna to former PM Chaudhary Charan Singh and others
He says, "While being on this post (Vice President), when I came to know that five sons of India are being given the highest civilian award – Bharat Ratna, I was filled… pic.twitter.com/1dcaXV6J5F
— ANI (@ANI) February 10, 2024
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said Chaudhary Charan Singh, a mass leader who devoted his life to striving for farmers’ interests and welfare, never lost touch with originality and kept his moral standards and principles paramount.
#WATCH | Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar speaks on Bharat Ratna to former PM Chaudhary Charan Singh and his message to the farmers of the country
He says, "…He used to tell farmers – besides contributing to the economy, farmers are also the backbone of India's politics. Today,… pic.twitter.com/Rlv2ADR5Ld
— ANI (@ANI) February 10, 2024
In an interview with the media, he stated that regardless of whether Chaudhary Charan Singh was the Agriculture Minister, Chief Minister or Prime Minister, he left an indelible impression on people’s hearts and minds with his exemplary and visionary leadership and public service.
“The love he had for the ‘Kisan Annadata’ was, perhaps, the one aspect that characterised him as a person and leader. He demonstrated indomitable courage in how he faced and fought the dark phase of the Emergency. He never wavered from his principles, people loved his simplicity, honesty, and dedication towards the poor and farmers. When such a personality is honoured with the nation’s highest prize, it leaves one with a great feeling. Today, crores of people in the country will get a very good sleep,” the Vice President said.
#WATCH | Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar speaks on sharing the news of former PM Chaudhary Charan Singh getting conferred with the Bharat Ratna, with Rajya Sabha members
He says, "Personally, there can be no bigger achievement than this for me that while being the Vice President… pic.twitter.com/TfF2zY0DkF
— ANI (@ANI) February 10, 2024
“Many have been wondering all these years why Chaudhary Charan Singh-ji did not receive the Bharat Ratna till now. No one ever raised such a demand as, despite not being named for the country’s highest honour all these years, he was a Ratan (a gem) for the farmer, for villagers and for the poor. However, when he is poised to (posthumously) receive the honour today, we can say that now, India is scaling new heights. Today’s India is taking a leap, today’s India is effective in the world, the Indian economy today, the special place it holds on the global stage is a matter of envy for many. This decision has brought solace to my heart and filled me with pride that I am the native of a country where such a visionary leader is being honoured with the highest prize,” Dhankhar added.
“The inspiration I got from Choudhary Saheb came largely from a key aspect of his life–that he never lost touch with originality and kept his morality and principles supreme. No one could even think of being dishonest with him. Throughout his life, he remained steadfastly opposed to the culture of recommendation,” the Vice President said.
“When a leader, who did such great work, was a lifelong stickler for principles and left an enviable legacy of visionary leadership and public service, gets his due so late, there is bound to be an outpouring of pain that had been suppressed all this time. However, the pain will have lost a measure of its effect now. He will get the Bharat Ratna and crores of farmers across the country can sleep peacefully now,” he added.
The Vice President added that Chaudhary Charan Singh used to call farmers the “backbone of the Indian economy”, and his dream about farmers’ welfare is finally being fulfilled today.
“He always used to say this about farmers: that they are the backbone of the economy. Today, I am pleased to see that the children of farmers have jobs and are doing well in life. The landscape of villages has changed. In a way, Chaudhary Saheb’s dream is being realised today,” he said.
Expressing joy on Chaudhary Charan Singh being chosen for the Bharat Ratna, the Vice President said it would bring joy to crores of farmers in the country.
“It is very important that the nation give one of our tallest leaders and proudest sons his due. We are fortunate to be living at a time when the country is in the Amrit Kaal. And, to bestow the country’s top honours on deserving people at this time makes it all the more special,” Jagdeep Dhankhar said.
(with inputs from ANI)
