Former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, who presided over a turning point in India's economy and whose legacy has been debated for years, will be honoured with the Bharat Ratna, nearly two decades after his death.
Narasimha Rao figures among a record five recipients of the country's highest civilian award this year - the others are Bihar icon Karpuri Thakur, former Prime Minister Charan Singh, BJP veteran LK Advani and renowned agricultural scientist MS Swaminathan.
Narasimha Rao is known for shepherding big economic reforms in the 1990s, when he led a Congress government at the Centre. His Finance Minister, Manmohan Singh, went on to become Prime Minister for two terms from 2004 to 2014.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on X that Narasimha Rao, as a distinguished scholar and statesman, 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 Prime Minister wrote.
"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."
Delighted to share that our former Prime Minister, Shri PV Narasimha Rao Garu, will be honoured with the Bharat Ratna.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 9, 2024
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… pic.twitter.com/lihdk2BzDU
The national honours this year have a strong message for states and parties not allied to the BJP, that the party respects and honours icons who perceived to have been denied due recognition by their own parties.
The top honour for Narasimha Rao, a Congress Prime Minister, is seen by many as the ruling BJP's outreach to the "Telugu spirit". The former PM's home state was Andhra Pradesh, and also Telangana, carved out of it in 2014.
Key Andhra Pradesh rivals, the ruling YSR Congress Party and the opposition TDP are both hoping for a tie-up with the BJP or its support ahead of the Andhra Pradesh election this year.
Many would see the move as an effort to outclass the Congress, which, for years, distanced itself from Narasimha Rao over allegations of corruption on his watch and because of his controversial Ayodhya legacy.
While the Congress skipped mention of Narasimha Rao for years while listing its iconic Prime Ministers, the BJP attacked the party over corruption scandals linked to the Rao years.
On Thursday, PM Modi specifically referred to Mr Rao's death and said he was disrespected by the Congress.
When Mr Rao died in December 2004, his body was not kept at the Congress headquarters in Delhi.
Narasimha Rao's grandson NV Subhash, a BJP leader, said he felt "every emotional" at what was a belated honour.
"PM Modi has conferred PV Narasimha Rao, though he belongs to the Congress party. Now, I blame the UPA government, especially the Gandhi family, from 2004 to 2014, when the UPA government was in power in the centre, leave alone Bharat Ratna or any awards, the Gandhi family was very, very instrumental in making Narasimha Rao a scapegoat for the failures of the Congress party," said Mr Subhash.
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