"It was long-awaited": Lokniti CSDS co-director Sanjay Kumar on Bharat Ratna to Karpoori Thakur

New Delhi [India], January 25 : Sharing insight on former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur being awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously, Lokniti Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) co-director Sanjay Kumar said it was "long-awaited."
Speaking to ANI, Sanjay Kumar said, "I think it was long awaited. There has been demand from various sectors that this man, who is regarded as a very strong socialist leader, a man who has contributed so much to not only Bihar politics but to national politics, be a deserving politician and deserving statesman. So it was, as I said, long-awaited."
"I think that is the reason why all political parties, whether parties are in power or parties are in opposition, are welcoming this decision," he said on Wednesday.
When asked about opposition welcoming the move of conferring Bharat Ratna (posthumously) to Karpoori Thakur but also saying it's a political gimmick, Kumar said, "I think there are two parts to this question. One, is it the decision of the government to give Bharat Ratna to someone who is not deserving? I think nobody would question that. I think it is being conferred at the right time."
"We are celebrating today, Thakur's birth centenary. So the timing seems perfect if you go by the formal rules and norms, but if the opposition is trying to say that the BJP is trying to play politics around that, I think there is a reason behind that because elections are around the corner. In a couple of months, Lok Sabha elections are going to take place and in present-day politics, there is a lot of competition for the OBC votes," he added.
s Janata Dal (United) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) claimed to be the inheritors of Karpoori Thakur's legacy, Kumar thinks they are in fear as the BJP may be able to mobilise the lower OBC votes.
"We should not forget that Karpoori Thakur belongs to a caste, which is the lower OBC caste. So I think there is fear among the opposition parties, especially the JDU and RJD, who are the ruling parties in Bihar at the moment, and the leaders of these parties claimed to be the inheritors of Karpoori Thakur's legacy. There is a fear that the BJP may be able to mobilise the lower OBC vote through the decision that has been taken by the central government," Kumar said.
"That is why I think the opposition parties are saying that politics is being played. Yes, there is a sense of politics. But if you leave aside the politics if you don't even look at that, I don't think there's any reason for the opposition to doubt why this has been given," he added.
Karpoori Thakur was born in 1924 in one of the most backward sections of society, the 'Nai Samaj'. He was a remarkable leader whose political journey was marked by his unwavering commitment to the marginalised sections of society.
He served as the Chief Minister of Bihar and was a key figure in the struggle against social discrimination and inequality. His commitment to affirmative action gave representation and opportunities to the poor, oppressed, exploited and deprived sections of the country.