#Bharat Ratna : Former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur Conferred Posthumously ; Nitish Kumar Hails Decision

Picture : ANI

Former chief minister of Bihar Karpoori Thakur has been conferred with the Bharat Ratna posthumously, a release from the Rashtrapati Bhawan said. ‘The President has been pleased to award Bharat Ratna to Shri Karpoori Thakur (posthumously),’ the release said.

With the government deciding to confer former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur with the Bharat Ratna posthumously, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said this prestigious recognition is a testament to the socialist leader’s enduring efforts as a champion for the marginalised and a stalwart of equality.

Popularly known as Jan Nayak, Thakur served as Bihar CM from December 1970 to June 1971, and from December 1977 to April 1979.

Reacting to the Government move, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar hailed the announcement that the country’s highest civilian award ‘Bharat Ratna’ will be conferred to his late mentor Karpoori Thakur.

In a statement, the Janata Dal-United president said it was a ‘fulfilment of an age-old demand’ by his party that will ‘send a positive message among deprived sections of the society’.

“I have always raised the demand for Bharat Ratna to Karpoori Thakur. The announcement that comes on the eve of his 100th birth anniversary brings me great delight,” Kumar said.