The Congress, on Friday, welcomed the Centre's decision to confer Bharat Ratna on former prime minister and Congress leader P.V. Narasimha Rao, who the party is often accused of ignoring.
On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that Rao, another former prime minister Charan Singh, and Green Revolution pioneer M.S. Swaminathan will be conferred the Bharat Ratna.
When asked about the Bharat Ratna announcements, specifically for Rao, Sonia Gandhi was very brief in her response. "I welcome them... why not," the Congress leader said.
The Congress, while welcoming the announcements, also attacked the Modi government, saying it is "silent" on giving legal status to minimum support price to farmers based on the Swaminathan formula.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet, "Shri PV Narasimha Rao, Chaudhary Charan Singh and Dr. MS Swaminathan were, are and will always be the 'Bharat ke Ratna'. Their contribution was unprecedented, which every Indian respects."
"The Modi government is silent on giving legal status of minimum support price to farmers based on Dr. Swaminathan's formula. Due to the stubbornness of Prime Minister Modi, 700 farmers were martyred during the movement, but the government broke its promise to the farmers. Even today the farmers are ready to march to Delhi, but the government is not listening," Ramesh said.
"Providing justice to farmers is one of the main objectives of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. Our demand for 'Kisan Nyay (justice to farmers)' is that a legal guarantee of giving minimum support price to farmers should be given on the basis of the Swaminathan formula. This will be a true tribute to former prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh ji and Swaminathan ji," he said.
Congress leader Madhu Goud Yaskhi hailed the decision saying, "They are the national icons...they are the pride of the nation."
He also praised Sonia Gandhi, saying she "could have become the PM but she respected the intelligence and sacrifices of Narasimha Rao for the Congress, she pointed out that Narasimha Rao should become the PM."
Lauding the contributions of Rao, he said, "...country was in turmoil economically (when Rao became the PM), but he lifted the country financially, brought reforms and he contributed to the growth you are seeing right now, that time Manmohan Singh was his finance minister; together they built this nation's economy. The BJP is only adding up the floors and claiming it is all because of them."
