PATNA: Bihar government’s caste-based survey forced the Centre to confer Bharat Ratna on
Karpoori Thakur
, deputy
CM Tejashwi Prasad Yadav
claimed Wednesday. “There is an atmosphere of fear in BJP… It’s a big victory for us. Our party chief Lalu Prasad has been demanding Bharat Ratna for Karpoori-ji for several years,” he told RJD workers at an event to mark the 100th anniversary of Karpoori.
Recalling his long association with Karpoori, Lalu reminisced how the former was harassed and even mistreated in
Vidhan Sabha
for giving reservations to the backward and most backward class people in the state and demanding implementation of the Mandal Commission report.
“I had always stood by him. He was the one who gave voice to the poor and people from the suppressed community,” said Lalu, adding that
Karpoori
had said he would make something out of Lalu, who will be known across villages.