Welcoming the announcement to confer Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian honour, on former chief minister of Bihar, Karpoori Thakur, Bahujan Samaj Party chief demanded the same honour for Kanshi Ram.

On social media site ‘X’, Mayawati wrote: “Nation, on his 100th birth anniversary today, I pay immense tribute to Jananayak Karpoori Thakur, who fought hard throughout his life to ensure a life of social justice and equality, especially for the most backward people, for their constitutional rights.”

She further wrote, “He (Karpoori Thakur) was the chief minister of Bihar twice.  The belated decision of the Central government to honour such a great personality, Karpoori Thakur, with Bharat Ratna is welcomed. Hearty congratulations and best wishes to his family and all his followers for this highest civilian honour of the country.”

The BSP chief demanded that in the same way, the contribution of BSP founder Kanshi Ram in making Dalits and other neglected people live with self-respect and make them stand on their feet, was historic and unforgettable and he too should be given Bharat Ratna as per the wishes of crores of people. 

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said, “What a big difference there is between 1986 and 2024. The Congress governments did not honour the great man who should have been given the Bharat Ratna first. I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this. January 24 is also the centenary year of Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur. Not only Bihar, he (Karpoori Thakur) was the chief minister of the entire country, especially of the backward, deprived and poor,” Maurya said.

The birth anniversary of Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur was celebrated at Rashtriya Lok Dal office in Lucknow on Wednesday.

RLD national spokesperson Anil Dubey welcomed the decision to confer Bharat Ratna on Karpoori Thakur and demanded the same honour for former prime minister Late Chaudhary Charan Singh.

“Like Thakur, Chaudhary Charan Singh also worked for the downtrodden class of society, workers, labourers, youths and farmers,” he said.  

Janata Dal (United) state convener Satyendra Patel and chief spokesman Diwakar Singh also hailed the Centre’s decision to confer Bharat Ratna on Karpoori Thakur.

“He was a great advocate of social justice and worked for the Dalits, MBCs and SC/ST people all through his life,” they said.