CM Revanth demands Bharat Ratna for Manmohan Singh

metro india news  I hyderabad

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Saturday urged the Union government to confer the country’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, on former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh for honouring the aspirations of the region’s people by approving the creation of Telangana state.

Unveiling a statue of Dr. Manmohan Singh at Wipro Junction in Hyderabad, the Chief Minister expressed regret over the Centre's failure to establish a memorial for the former Prime Minister in New Delhi. Emphasising that national honours and recognition should transcend party politics, Revanth Reddy called on the Union government to build a knowledge center in the national capital dedicated to Dr. Singh's legacy. He also instructed Congress MPs to raise the demand for the Bharat Ratna during the upcoming Parliamentary session.

"The credit for integrating Hyderabad State into the Indian Union goes to Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Decades later, it was Sonia Gandhi and Dr. Manmohan Singh who fulfilled the long-cherished dream of statehood for Telangana," Revanth Reddy said. He noted that the signature Dr. Singh affixed to the official order granting statehood was also displayed at the event, calling the statue a fitting tribute to inspire future generations.

Highlighting Dr. Singh’s contributions as an economist, Reserve Bank Governor, Union Finance Minister, and Prime Minister, the Chief Minister recalled his role during the 1991 economic crisis under PV Narasimha Rao's administration, where he introduced Liberalization, Privatization, and Globalization (LPG) reforms. He added that installing the statue in Hyderabad's Financial District honours the reforms that paved the way for the city’s economic growth.

Revanth Reddy further credited the UPA leadership of Sonia Gandhi and Dr. Singh for key social welfare legislations, including the Right to Education Act, MGNREGA, and the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act of 2013, which ensured fair compensation for the landless poor.