Hours after the announcement of Bharat Ratna to former Prime Ministers PV Narasimha Rao and Chaudhary Charan Singh and father of green revolution S Swaminathan, estranged brothers Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray and Raj Thackeray made a strong case for the Centre to confer Bharat Ratna to Shiv Sena supremo late Bal Thackeray. Shiv Sena UBT also demanded that the Bharat Ratna be conferred to Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.
Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led government at the Centre for not conferring Bharat Ratna to Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray and VD Savarkar.
‘’Prime Minister Modi, who calls himself Hindutva-vadi, has once again forgotten Hindu Hridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray. The first two and now three leaders have been honoured with Bharat Ratna in barely one month. However, neither Veer Savarkar nor Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray who deserve Bharat Ratna more than anyone else have been fully ignored. In one year, three persons can be honoured with Bharat Ratna. But PM Modi has announced five Bharat Ratnas. Clearly, elections are around the corner,’’ said Raut on X.
‘’After Karpuri Thakur and L K Advani, Chaudhary Charan Singh, P V Narasimha Rao, and M S Swaminathan have been honoured with Bharat Ratna today. Other leaders are waiting, too. But why has the PM forgotten Shri Balasaheb Thackeray who is the real architect behind the Hindu wave sweeping the country?’’ he asked. He further reminded, ‘’And remember, it is because of Balasaheb that PM Modi could hold the consecration ceremony of Ram temple in Ayodhya.’’
Even before Raut’s statement, MNS chief Raj Thackeray claimed his uncle and Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray deserves Bharat Ratna.
‘’Former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, Chaudhary Charan Singh, and S Swaminathan, father of the Indian Green Revolution, were posthumously awarded Bharat Ratna. S Swaminathan passed away just a few months ago. A scientist who achieved so much should have received this honour during his lifetime. Anyway,
Now that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre has shown political generosity by honouring PV Narasimha Rao, Chaudhary Charan Singh, and Pranab Mukherjee a few years ago, they must show the same generosity and declare Balasaheb Thackeray Bharat Ratna as well,’’ said Raj Thackeray.
‘’A prominent cartoonist of this country and a unique leader who kindled the pride of all Hindus across the country deserves this honour. It will be a moment of jubilation for me, and others like me who have inherited Balasaheb’s thoughts,’’ said Raj Thackeray.
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