Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy urged the Union government to confer the Bharat Ratna on former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. He also sought a memorial and knowledge centre dedicated to Singh in New Delhi.
Revanth made the demands while unveiling a statue of the former Prime Minister at Wipro Junction in Hyderabad on Saturday. The Telangana government had earlier directed officials to expedite work on the statue and junction.
The Chief Minister linked his Bharat Ratna Manmohan Singh demand to the former Prime Minister’s role in Telangana’s formation. He said Singh had honoured the aspirations of the region by approving the creation of the State.
Bharat Ratna Manmohan Singh demand raised
Revanth expressed regret that the Centre had not established a memorial for the former Prime Minister in New Delhi. He said national honours and recognition should transcend party politics. Therefore, he urged the Union government to establish a knowledge centre in Delhi to preserve Singh’s legacy.
Revanth also instructed Congress MPs to raise the Bharat Ratna Manmohan Singh demand during the upcoming Parliament session. “The credit for integrating Hyderabad State into the Indian Union goes to Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel,” Revanth said.
He added that Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh later fulfilled the long-standing demand for a separate Telangana State. The Chief Minister said the event also displayed Singh’s signature on the official order granting Telangana statehood. He described the statue as a tribute intended to inspire future generations.
Revanth recalls Singh’s economic role
Revanth also highlighted Singh’s public career as an economist, Reserve Bank Governor, Union Finance Minister and Prime Minister. He recalled Singh’s role during the 1991 economic crisis under Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao. Singh, as Finance Minister, introduced major liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation reforms.
Revanth said the decision to install Singh’s statue in Hyderabad’s Financial District carried significance. He linked the location to economic reforms that contributed to Hyderabad’s subsequent growth. The Chief Minister also credited the UPA leadership of Sonia Gandhi and Singh with major social welfare legislation.
He cited the Right to Education Act and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. Revanth also referred to the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act of 2013. He said the land acquisition law provided fair compensation and safeguards for affected people.