The Telangana Assembly’s resolution seeking the Bharat Ratna for former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has sparked fresh demands for a memorial in Delhi honoring another former Prime Minister, PV Narasimha Rao, with Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader KT Rama Rao (KTR) urging the state government to press the Union Government on this issue.
KTR’s Statement on PV Narasimha Rao
KTR highlighted the contributions of PV Narasimha Rao, a Telangana-born leader credited with spearheading India’s economic reforms, saying:
“He is the only late Prime Minister who does not have a memorial in the national capital. We urge the Telangana government to pass a resolution demanding a memorial for PV Narasimha Rao and persuade the Union Government to act.”
KTR alleged political motives behind the Congress-led state government’s reluctance to discuss Narasimha Rao and emphasized that as a son of Telangana, his contributions deserved recognition at the national level.
Criticism from BRS MLC K Kavitha
Adding to the demand, BRS MLC K Kavitha accused the Congress of disrespecting Narasimha Rao, referencing the party’s handling of his last rites.
“Congress ignored and disrespected PV Narasimha Rao by not conducting his last rites in Delhi. In Telangana, we celebrated his birth centenary and built a memorial in Hyderabad. Yet, a former PM like him deserves a memorial in Delhi.”
Resolution and Statue for Manmohan Singh
While supporting the Telangana Assembly’s resolution for Bharat Ratna for Dr. Manmohan Singh, KTR appreciated the government’s move to install a statue of the former PM in Telangana.
“Dr. Manmohan Singh was a great economist and is respected across party lines. Our party supports the resolution to honor him,” he said.
Congress-BJP Clash Over Memorials
A parallel controversy has emerged over the alleged denial of Rajghat for the last rites of Dr. Manmohan Singh.
- Congress: Accused the BJP-led Union Government of “narrow-mindedness” and “hatred” for refusing a request by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to hold the ceremony at Rajghat.
- Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri: Countered by criticizing Congress for creating a “controversy” over memorials, pointing out that Narasimha Rao’s body was not even brought to the AICC headquarters during his demise.
Background on PV Narasimha Rao
PV Narasimha Rao, often called the “Father of Indian Economic Reforms,” served as India’s Prime Minister from 1991 to 1996. Despite his monumental contributions, he has been a controversial figure within Congress. His legacy has often been overshadowed by internal party dynamics, and his final rites were conducted in Hyderabad rather than Delhi, fueling longstanding grievances over his treatment.
Conclusion
As Telangana honors former PM Manmohan Singh, the BRS has intensified its demand for national recognition of PV Narasimha Rao, reigniting debates over how India’s leaders are commemorated. Whether this resolution finds traction in the national capital remains to be seen.