‘They Shared a Brotherhood’: Tej Pratap Yadav Proposes Bharat Ratna for Lalu and Nitish; Watch | India News

Tej Pratap Yadav Advocates for Bharat Ratna for Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar

Background on the Bharat Ratna Appeal

NEW DELHI: Tej Pratap Yadav, the chief of the Janshakti Janta Dal, has officially proposed that former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav be honored with the Bharat Ratna, along with Nitish Kumar.

Yadav’s Statement on Family Ties

During a press conference on Saturday, Tej Pratap stated, “Lalu Prasad Yadav should also be awarded the Bharat Ratna. If people are suggesting that Nitish Kumar deserves it, then he should receive it too, because it is said that my father and Nitish Kumar were like brothers. This is Janshakti Janta Dal’s demand.”

Political Context of the Proposal

This announcement follows a recent letter from Janata Dal (United) leader K.C. Tyagi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the consideration of the Bharat Ratna for Nitish Kumar. In his correspondence, Tyagi referred to Kumar as a “precious gem” of the socialist movement, mentioning that several leaders have received this honor during their lifetime.

Tyagi’s Call for Recognition

In his letter, Tyagi expressed appreciation for the Prime Minister’s efforts in recognizing ancestors with the Bharat Ratna on March 30, 2024, and requested that Nitish Kumar, esteemed in the socialist movement, also be deemed deserving of this prestigious award.

JD(U)’s Response to Tyagi’s Appeal

However, the JD(U) quickly clarified that Tyagi’s views are not reflective of the party’s official stance. Party spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad emphasized that Tyagi’s previous statements do not align with the party’s ideology or position, stating, “All statements made by him shall be deemed to have been made in his personal capacity.”

Current Status of Nitish Kumar

Reiterating the party’s position, Prasad reassured that “Bihar CM Nitish Kumar is healthy and is continuously serving the people of the state,” and insisted that any statements from Tyagi are not tied to the party’s activities.

Recent Bharat Ratna Honorees

In the 2024 awards, the Bharat Ratna was granted to several distinguished individuals, including former Prime Ministers P.V. Narasimha Rao and Chaudhary Charan Singh, renowned agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminathan, and former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur.