Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh welcomed Modi Government’s decision on Wednesday to honour former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and noted educationist and freedom fighter late Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya with ‘Bharat Ratna’ award.
Singh has congratulated President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Government for an ‘excellent decision’. Singh has stated in his congratulatory message that the decision to adorn two great leaders of the country with ‘Bharat Ratna’ has been announced on the eve of their birth anniversary, which is a matter of joy and pride for entire nation.
“Atalji is a magnificent persona as a poet, a thinker, a writer, an orator, a competent administrator and a popular politician,’’ Singh was quoted as saying in an official statement. Singh has also wished for a long, healthy and prosperous life for Vajpayee who is credited for formation of three new States in 2000 - Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand, when he was the Prime Minister.
“People of these States will be overjoyed to know that Atalji is being adorned with Bharat Ratna Award’’, Singh stated. He also said that honouring Mahamna Pt Madan Mohan Malviya with ‘Bharat Ratna Award’ is a matter of pride for entire educational fraternity of the country.
“He (Malaviya) had laid foundation of the Banaras Hindu University nearly 100 years ago. He has great contribution in the field of literature and journalism,’’ Singh opined. Chief Minister further said that in Vajpayee’s tenure as Prime Minister, many key decisions of national interest were taken that unleashed path of development for the country and glorified name of India across the world.
In 1998, underground nuclear test was carried out in Pokhran in Rajasthan that projected India as a nation equipped with nuclear power. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) was initiated in the country to connect millions of villages through all-weather concrete roads. Swarnim Chaturbhuj project for development of national highways was also initiated in his tenure.
Chief Minister said “Atalji was the first ever person to deliver speech in Hindi at the United Nations Organization’s (UNO’s) general assembly,’’. Singh also stated about his affectionate relation with Vajpayee and said, “In 2004, we had the opportunity to invite him as the chief guest of Rajyotsav 2004 event, which was organised on the occasion of the fourth formation day of Chhattisgarh”.
On January 28, 2002, Vajpayee laid foundation stone for the Super Thermal Power Plant of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) in Seepat, Bilaspur. On April 16, 2005, he graced the convocation ceremony of Pt Ravishankar Shukla University in Raipur as the chief guest.