Telangana Assembly Unanimously Recommends Bharat Ratna for Dr. Manmohan Singh

Hyderabad, Dec 30 (NationPress) The Telangana Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution to endorse the conferment of the Bharat Ratna on former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, who recently passed away.

A resolution put forth by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy was adopted unanimously by the Assembly to bestow India's highest civilian award upon Dr. Singh.

The special session of the Assembly paid homage to the former Prime Minister, offering condolences over his death while acknowledging his priceless contributions to the nation's advancement and the creation of Telangana.

The Assembly also approved a plan to erect a statue of Dr. Manmohan Singh in Hyderabad to honor him as a distinguished leader who realized the 60-year dreams of the Telangana populace.

The Assembly conveyed heartfelt condolences to Dr. Singh’s family, recognizing him as a globally renowned economist who held various esteemed positions, including Chief Economic Advisor, RBI Governor, Deputy Chairperson of the Planning Commission, Finance Minister, and Prime Minister. It emphasized that his term as Finance Minister (1991–1996) was a pivotal moment in India's economic narrative, marked by significant reforms in liberalization, privatization, and globalization.

During his tenure as Prime Minister (2004–2014), he launched transformative social initiatives such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), the Right to Information Act, the National Rural Health Mission, and the Aadhaar program. He also enacted crucial amendments to the Land Acquisition Act in 2013 to safeguard displaced individuals and revised the Forest Rights Act in 2006 to empower tribal communities.

The Assembly noted that Dr. Manmohan Singh played a key role in the formation of the Telangana state. Under his leadership, the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014 was enacted in Parliament, fulfilling the long-standing aspiration of the people.

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy expressed that Telangana is indebted to Dr. Manmohan Singh for his vital role in its establishment.

He underscored the late Prime Minister's vision and leadership in enhancing India's global reputation, stressing the importance of honoring him as a guiding figure for future generations.

Members across party lines paid rich tributes to Manmohan Singh, reminiscing about his close connection with Telangana.

The main opposition party, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), fully supported the proposal for awarding Bharat Ratna to Manmohan Singh. BRS leader K.T. Rama Rao remarked that the late leader truly deserves the utmost honor.

The Chief Minister also proposed that a statue of the late Prime Minister be erected in the Financial District of Hyderabad to honor his legacy and acknowledge the close ties he had with Telangana.

He noted that placing the statue in a prominent location would allow the public to pay their respects to the late leader on his birth and death anniversaries and draw inspiration from him.

Describing Manmohan Singh's passing as a significant loss for the nation, Revanth Reddy asserted that his contributions to the country will always be remembered.

Revanth Reddy recalled that it was in Mahabubnagar that, as Prime Minister, he launched the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme for ensuring 100 days of guaranteed employment in a year.

KTR reminisced about the time when the son of Telangana, P.V. Narasimha Rao, was Prime Minister and brought Manmohan Singh into the government through lateral entry. Manmohan Singh, who had served in the Reserve Bank of India, was appointed as finance minister.

Describing the late leader as an outstanding economist, the BRS leader mentioned that in his inaugural Budget speech in 1991, Manmohan Singh proclaimed that the world would soon recognize India.

The BRS leader highlighted that Manmohan Singh embodied the principle of simple living and high thinking.

Pointing out that loyalty and commitment are rare qualities in contemporary politics, KTR emphasized that Manmohan Singh was a remarkable leader who remained dedicated to the Congress party that provided him opportunities.

Ministers, members of Congress, and members of BRS, BJP, AIMIM, and CPI also paid their respects to Manmohan Singh.