Telangana CM seeks Bharat Ratna for Dr. Manmohan Singh, proposes statue in Hyderabad
Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy tabled a resolution in the state Assembly on December 30, 2024, urging the central government to confer the Bharat Ratna, Indiaโs highest civilian honor, on former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
The resolution also proposes the installation of a statue of Dr. Manmohan Singh in Hyderabad’s financial district to recognize his contributions to India’s economic development.
In his statement, CM Revanth Reddy highlighted Dr. Manmohan Singhโs key role in liberalizing the Indian economy. “Manmohan Singhโs vision laid the foundation for the economic reforms that reshaped India. It is time to honor his legacy,” he said, seeking the Assembly’s approval for the statue proposal.
๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ญ๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐ง๐ฆ๐จ๐ก๐๐ง ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ก
Telangana Chief Minister K. Revanth Reddy introduced a resolution in the state assembly, urging the central government to confer theโฆ pic.twitter.com/oRfNCOHd1n
โ Hyderabad Mail (@Hyderabad_Mail) December 30, 2024
Opposition leader K.T. Rama Rao, also the working president of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), expressed his support for the resolution, saying, โDr. Manmohan Singh deserves the Bharat Ratna for his immense contributions to the nation.โ
However, BJP MLA Aleru Maheshwar Reddy criticized the move, questioning the Congress Partyโs priorities. He pointed out that Rahul Gandhi, despite claiming to respect Dr. Manmohan Singh, skipped memorial events for him while celebrating the New Year in Vietnam.
MLA Aleru Maheshwar Reddy also suggested that the Telangana government should focus on honoring former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, a son of Telangana, who played a pivotal role in the 1991 economic reforms.
Dr. Manmohan Singh passed away at the age of 92 on December 26, 2024, at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi. He had been receiving treatment for age-related conditions and died after a sudden loss of consciousness at his residence. Despite efforts to revive him, he was declared dead at 9:51 p.m.
The funeral of the former Prime Minister was held on December 28 at Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi. His daughter lit the funeral pyre amid Sikh prayers, and several prominent figures, including President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers, and Congress leaders, attended the ceremony.
Dr. Manmohan Singh, the first Sikh to hold the office, served as Indiaโs 13th Prime Minister from May 2004 to May 2014. His tenure is remembered for the major economic reforms that helped position India as a global economic force.
Following his death, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy expressed deep sorrow on social media, calling Dr. Singh “one of the greatest economists, leaders, reformers, and, above all, a humanitarian.” He praised Singhโs integrity, decency, and humane approach to decision-making, noting his lasting impact on Indiaโs development.
