"Never acknowledged by Gandhi-Nehru family...": Sharmistha Mukherjee on Bharat Ratna for PV Narasimha Rao

New Delhi [India], February 9 : Calling the announcement of Bharat Ratna to be conferred upon former PM PV Narasimha Rao "fantastic", author and daughter of former President Pranab Mukherjee, Sharmistha Mukherjee on Friday said that former Prime Minister who ushered economic reforms in India was "never acknowledged by Gandhi-Nehru family."
"This is fantastic news... The way PV Narasimha Rao was ignored and sidelined by his own party... He was the person who ushered economic reforms in India but this Gandhi-Nehru family never acknowledged it and didn't even allow his mortal remains to enter the AICC after his death," Mukherjee told ANI on Friday.
She further said that the announcement taken by Narendra Modi's government is "absolute magnanimity and graciousness".
"I think it's the absolute magnanimity and graciousness of Narendra Modi's government to confer and recognize the greatness and contribution of the Prime minister who belongs to Congress," she added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced that former PMs Chaudhary Charan Singh and PV Narasimha Rao will be conferred the Bharat Ratna. Along with them, MS Swaminathan also known as the father of the green revolution will also be awarded the country's highest civilian award.
In a line-up post on X, PM Modi said that as a distinguished scholar and statesman, Narasimha Rao served India extensively in various capacities.
"Delighted to share that our former Prime Minister, PV Narasimha Rao Garu, will be honoured with the Bharat Ratna. As a distinguished scholar and statesman, Narasimha Rao Garu served India extensively in various capacities. He is equally remembered for the work he did as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Union Minister, and as a Member of Parliament and Legislative Assembly for many years. His visionary leadership was instrumental in making India economically advanced, laying a solid foundation for the country's prosperity and growth," the PM said.
"Narasimha Rao Garu's tenure as Prime Minister was marked by significant measures that opened India to global markets, fostering a new era of economic development. Furthermore, his contributions to India's foreign policy, language and education sectors underscore his multifaceted legacy as a leader who not only steered India through critical transformations but also enriched its cultural and intellectual heritage," he added.
Born on June 28, 1921, in Karimnagar, Telangana, being an agriculturist and an advocate, Narasimha Rao joined politics and held some important portfolios. He was the Minister of Law and Information, 1962-64; Law and Endowments, 1964-67; Health and Medicine, 1967 and Education, 1968-71, Government of Andhra Pradesh. He was the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh from 1971-73 and General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee from 1975-76.