New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh will be conferred with the Bharat Ratna. Along with him, MS Swaminathan and PV Narasimha Rao will be conferred with the Bharat Ratna.
"It is the good fortune of our government that former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh is being honoured with the Bharat Ratna. This honour is dedicated to his incomparable contribution to the country. He had dedicated his entire life to the rights and welfare of farmers. Be it the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh or the Home Minister of the country, even as an MLA, he always gave impetus to nation-building. He also stood firm against the Emergency. His dedication to our farmer brothers and sisters and his commitment to democracy during the Emergency are inspiring to the entire nation," PM posted on X.
Charan Singh served as the fifth Prime Minister from July 28, 1979, to January 14, 1980. He also served as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh twice. Born on December 23, 1902, in a rural family in Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnor, he studied law after completing his post-graduation in science and entered politics during the freedom movement.
He was first elected to the UP Legislative Assembly in 1937 from Chhaprauli and represented the constituency in 1946, 1952, 1962 and 1967. He became Parliamentary Secretary in Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant's Government in 1946 and worked in various departments such as Revenue, Medical and Public Health, Justice and Information.
During his tenure as the Chief Minister, Singh implemented the Consolidation Act. Singh also wrote multiple books, including India's Economic Policy, The Gandhian Blueprint and Economic Nightmare of India. He wrote two books from Bareilly jail during the freedom movement. Chaudhary Charan Singh died on May 29, 1987. His mausoleum named Kisan Ghat was built in Delhi.
Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav has congratulated the farmers on the announcement of the Bharat Ratna to Chaudhary Charan Singh. He said that Samajwadi Party had also demanded the Bharat Ratna to Chaudhary Saheb. Today I congratulate those who have been awarded the Bharat Ratna and the people associated with them.
