New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu today addressed the nation on the eve of the 75th Republic Day. “This is a period of epochal change,” President Murmu said in the televised address.
She acknowledged the contribution to society by former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur, and also pointed to the consecration of the Ram Lalla temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya as a historic and an immensely significant moment for the country.
“I pay my tribute to Karpoori ji for enriching public life with his contribution,” the President said.
Karpoori Thakur, the two-term Bihar Chief Minister who died in 1988, has been named for the country’s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna for his contribution to uplifting the poor and backward classes. During his political career, Karpoori Thakur was considered the guiding light of Other Backward Classes (OBC) politics in Bihar.
“Karpoori ji belonged to the backward classes and dedicated his life for their welfare,” President Murmur said.
I pay my tribute to Karpoori Ji for enriching public life through his contributions. pic.twitter.com/RebJqrnl8k
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 25, 2024
Villagers in the ‘Karpoori gram’ in the Samastipur district of Bihar had met the family of Karpoori Thakur and his elder son Ramnath Thakur, the Rajya Sabha MP from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United), or JD(U), shortly after the announcement by the Center.
Senior JD(U) leader Neeraj Kumar had stated that Nitish Kumar had been asking the Center to present the Bharat Ratna to Karpoori Thakur. “Although it came late, it is a welcome decision and will inspire the youth to take up his ideals,” Neeraj Kumar had stated.
All indications point to Nitish Kumar leaving the recently formed Opposition bloc INDIA. The Bihar Chief Minister will not take part in Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra when it enters the state on January 30, according to sources made public today.
But when Prime Minister Narendra Modi travels to Bihar to promote the BJP before the Lok Sabha election, Nitish Kumar is probably going to share the platform with him.
With the decision to not walk with Mr Gandhi, the Bihar Chief Minister whose Janata Dal (United) or JD(U), which is an ally of Lalu Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in the ruling Bihar government, has given a subtle message that all is not well within the INDIA bloc.
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