Former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh has been awarded a posthumous Bharat Ratna – India’s highest civilian award – the government said Friday afternoon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the award on X (formerly Twitter) hailing Mr Singh for his “incomparable contributions”.
“He dedicated his life to the welfare of farmers… whether as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh or Home Minister of the country, and even as MLA, he always gave impetus to nation-building. He stood against the Emergency (and) his dedication to our farmer brothers and sisters is inspiring…” Mr Modi said.
हमारी सरकार का यह सौभाग्य है कि देश के पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री चौधरी चरण सिंह जी को भारत रत्न से सम्मानित किया जा रहा है। यह सम्मान देश के लिए उनके अतुलनीय योगदान को समर्पित है। उन्होंने किसानों के अधिकार और उनके कल्याण के लिए अपना पूरा जीवन समर्पित कर दिया था। उत्तर प्रदेश के… pic.twitter.com/gB5LhaRkIv
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 9, 2024
The Bharat Ratna for Chaudhary Charan Singh comes amid reports of a seat-sharing deal between the BJP and the Rashtriya Lok Dal – founded by his son and now led by his grandson, Jayant Chaudhary.
And, minutes after Mr Modi’s post, Mr Chaudhary tweeted: “Dil jeet gaya (Hearts have been won).”
Sources told NDTV the BJP will give the RLD – which has substantial support among Jats and farmers in western Uttar Pradesh – two Lok Sabha seats and one Rajya Sabha seat in return for its support.
NDTV was also told that Mr Chaudhary’s party had made awarding a Bharat Ratna for Chaudhary Charan Singh a key condition for any agreement.
The RLD only last month confirmed an alliance with Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party, under which it was to contest seven Lok Sabha seats. Faced with possibly losing the RLD’s backing, Akhilesh Yadav yesterday told reporters Mr Chaudhary is a “very well-educated person… (who) understands politics”.
The former UP Chief Minister also said he hoped he would not weaken the struggle against the BJP “for the welfare of farmers and prosperity of the state”. His party was more explicit; General Secretary Shivpal Yadav said “Jayant will not go anywhere”, and accused the BJP of “spreading confusion”.
Chaudhary Charan Singh’s Bharat Ratna is the fifth announced this year; the government has also recognised Congress leader and former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur, and the BJP’s LK Advani, as well as world-renowned agronomist MS Swaminathan.
