PV Narasimha Rao's 105th birth anniversary: Telangana leaders unite in tribute
Synopsis
On what would have been his 105th birthday, P.V. Narasimha Rao drew tributes from Congress, BJP, and BRS alike at Hyderabad's PV Ghat — a rare moment of cross-party unity that also exposed an old fault line: BJP leaders renewed allegations that Congress sidelined and dishonoured the architect of India's 1991 liberalisation even in death.
Key Takeaways
Narasimha Rao's 105th birth anniversary was observed on 28 June with cross-party tributes at PV Ghat, Hyderabad .
Revanth Reddy hailed Narasimha Rao's 'enduring contributions to the building of modern India.' Union Minister G.
Kishan Reddy , BRS's K.T.
Rama Rao , and BJP state president Ramchander Rao were among leaders paying floral tributes.
Narasimha Rao was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2024 .
BJP renewed allegations that Congress denied Narasimha Rao's mortal remains a public lying-in-state at its Delhi headquarters .
He remains the only Prime Minister from outside the Nehru-Gandhi family to complete a full five-year term .
Leaders spanning the political spectrum in Telangana came together on Sunday, 28 June to honour former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao on his 105th birth anniversary, paying floral tributes at PV Gnana Bhoomi (PV Ghat) on the banks of Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad. The rare cross-party convergence underscored the enduring stature of the leader who steered India's landmark 1991 economic liberalisation — and who was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2024.
Chief Minister Leads Tributes
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy issued a message acknowledging Narasimha Rao's 'enduring contributions to the building of modern India.' He described the late leader as a freedom fighter, a polyglot, and a visionary who navigated the nation through turbulent times. Reddy said Narasimha Rao's 'services and ideals would always serve as an inspiration for future generations.'
Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Mahesh Kumar Goud called Narasimha Rao 'one of India's most visionary statesmen,' posting on X: 'A scholar, reformer, and transformative leader, his bold economic reforms in 1991 reshaped India's future and laid the foundation for a stronger, globally competitive nation. His wisdom, administrative excellence, and unwavering commitment to public service continue to inspire generations.'
BJP and Union Ministers at PV Ghat
Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy, former Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Ramchander Rao, and Narasimha Rao's grandson and BJP leader N.V. Subhash were among those who visited PV Ghat to offer floral tributes. Kishan Reddy said Narasimha Rao's 'initiative and vision as Prime Minister regarding economic and policy reforms paved the way for the nation's development,' calling his role in building modern India 'truly memorable.'
BRS Recalls a Son of Telangana
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao hailed Narasimha Rao as 'a pioneer of economic reforms, a polyglot, and a statesman,' adding: 'It is a matter of pride for all of us that P.V. Narasimha Rao — who steered the nation out of a massive crisis during a turbulent period — was born in Telangana.' Rama Rao recalled that the previous BRS government had named a Veterinary University after him, renamed Necklace Road as 'P.V. Marg', and installed a statue to commemorate his legacy.
BJP Raises Congress Legacy Row
State BJP president Ramchander Rao described Narasimha Rao as 'the great architect of India's economic reforms' and the first Prime Minister from outside the Nehru-Gandhi family to complete a full five-year term. He alleged that the Congress's 'first family' never reconciled with this, and that Narasimha Rao's mortal remains were not permitted to lie in state at the Congress headquarters in Delhi for public condolences — a charge that has resurfaced repeatedly over the years. 'The Congress insulted P.V. Narasimha Rao and tried in every way to erase his legacy,' Ramchander Rao said.
Notably, the posthumous conferral of the Bharat Ratna in 2024 — under the current BJP-led Central government — has added a fresh political dimension to the annual commemoration, with both ruling and opposition parties in Telangana staking a claim to his legacy.
Point of View
The Congress in Telangana walks a tightrope: reclaiming Narasimha Rao's legacy is electorally essential in the state, yet the party's central leadership has historically been reluctant to fully rehabilitate a Prime Minister who operated outside the Nehru-Gandhi orbit. Thirty-plus years after 1991, the battle over who owns India's liberalisation story is very much alive.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is PV Narasimha Rao's birth anniversary significant in 2025?
28 June 2025 marks the 105th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, the architect of India's landmark 1991 economic liberalisation. His stature has grown further since the Central government posthumously awarded him the Bharat Ratna in 2024.
Where were tributes paid to PV Narasimha Rao in Hyderabad?
Leaders paid floral tributes at PV Gnana Bhoomi, commonly known as PV Ghat, on the banks of Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad. Congress, BJP, BRS leaders, and family members of the late Prime Minister all visited the site.
What did BJP leaders allege about Congress and Narasimha Rao?
State BJP president Ramchander Rao alleged that the Congress's 'first family' never accepted Narasimha Rao — the first Prime Minister outside the Nehru-Gandhi family to serve a full five-year term — and that his mortal remains were not permitted to lie in state at the Congress headquarters in Delhi. These allegations have been a recurring point of political contention.
What was Narasimha Rao's most significant contribution as Prime Minister?
Narasimha Rao is widely credited with steering India's 1991 economic liberalisation, which opened the country to foreign investment, dismantled the licence raj, and laid the foundation for India's integration into the global economy. He served as Prime Minister from 1991 to 1996.
When was PV Narasimha Rao awarded the Bharat Ratna?
P.V. Narasimha Rao was posthumously conferred the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, in 2024 by the BJP-led Central government.
