NEW DELHI: A day after government announced “Bharat Ratna” decoration for one of the most celebrated backward caste leaders, Karpoori
Thakur
, BJP on Wednesday was on an overdrive to lay claim to the legacy of the socialist giant by emphasising the commonalities of social background and ‘pro-poor’ commitment between him and PM Narendra
Modi
.
The PM said Thakur, who would have turned 100 today, has been an inspiration for the pro-poor policies of his government.
Modi, who is learnt to be the central push for the recognition for the socialist icon, asked the youth of the country to follow the path shown by the former Bihar CM.
Addressing the birth centenary celebration of Thakur, affectionately called ‘Jan Nayak’, home minister Amit
Shah
said on Jan 22, PM Modi accomplished “Prabhu Ram Kaj” (Shri Ram’s work) and next day, he did “Garib Kaj” to elevate the honour of the poor by announcing Bharat Ratna for Thakur. “Thus Modi Ji honoured 70 crore poor in this nation and met the goal of justice and rights for all. Modi Ji revived the hope of winning the Bharat Ratna among the youths who want to serve the nation as Karpoori Thakur Ji did,” he said.
Shah who released a postage stamp and a commemorative coin to mark the day, said Modi government has revised the OBC list, given rights to the states to prepare their own OBC list, provided reservation to OBCs in IITs and IIMs as well as in allotment of petrol pumps.
The event, attended by social justice minister
Virendra Kumar
, law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and junior ministers Nityanand Rai (home) and Meenakshi Lekhi (culture) was marked by simultaneous raising of slogans like “Karpoori Thakur Amar Rahe”, “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Jai Shri Ram”- the eclectic fusion appearing to blur the distance between the socialist leader, known for his staunch opposition to Congress, and a BJP eager to embrace him.
BJP chief JP Nadda said, “Bharat Ratna for Karpoori Thakur means that the PM has honoured every poor and the deprived of this country. Thakur’s life was dedicated to social justice.”
Shah expressed regret that the journey for Thakur from becoming a “Jan Nayak” to a Bharat Ratna was rather long as many people came but none thought of adorning him with the highest civilian honour.
“It took Modi, a leader from a poor family like Thakur to become PM to honour him with Bharat Ratna,” he said, an apparent dig at the opposition parties.
Claiming that Prime Minister Modi’s government was guided by Thakur’s ideals, he cited several welfare initiatives of the government in the past 10 years.
Shah recalled that Karpuri Thakur was made to massage the feet of a feudal lord when he went to share the good news of his passing the matric exam with first division. “We cannot imagine a situation like this and this person went on to become the chief minister of Bihar. The spirit of equality our Constitution espouses through reservation got true meaning when Thakur became the CM of Bihar,” he said.