Baba Ramdev Jumps Into Bharat Ratna Row, Asks Why No Hindu Saint Awarded in Last 70 Years
After political controversy gaining momentum over Bharat Ratna award, Baba Ramdev has ignited the flame by jumping into the row.
New Delhi, January 27: With the political controversy gaining momentum over iconic Lingayat seer Shivakumara Swami not being announced as a Bharat Ratna awardee, Baba Ramdev has ignited the flame on Sunday. Ramdev questioned why not even a single sanyasi (saint) had been awarded Bharat Ratna?
Expressing his opinion on the issue, Ramdev said, as ANI quotes, “It's unfortunate that in last 70 years, not even one sanyasi has been awarded Bharat Ratna, be it Maharishi Dayananda Saraswati or Swami Vivekananda, Shivakumara Swami Ji. All these saints who have contributed so much must also be conferred with the Bharat Ratna.” Citizenship Amendment Bill: Assamese Singer Zubeen Garg Booked For ‘Insulting’ Bharat Ratna Award on Republic Day.
Earlier, echoing similar tones, Leader of Opposition of Lok Sabha – Mallikarjun Kharge – had stated, “It is disappointing that the Central government did not announce to confer the Bharat Ratna award on Shivakumara Swami, iconic Lingayat seer who died recently.”
Kharge has accused the BJP-led Union government of propagating RSS ideology. He said, “Government had seen his work. Even then the BJP government didn't give him the award. This is sad. A singer and a man who propagates their RSS ideology have also been awarded. If you compare all of them, then Shivakumara Swami Ji should have been given the award.”
Adding more, he had said, “Bharat Ratna was conferred upon Pranab Mukherjee, I welcome this. But Shivakumara Swami Ji worked a lot in the education sector and spent his life working for orphan children and sent them to schools. He should be awarded Bharat Ratna. We had expected this.”
Similarly, former Karnataka chief minister and senior Congress leader, Siddaramiah said, “Siddaganga Swamiji should have been honoured with Bharat Ratna for his work, just coming to the mutt and sitting beside his mortal remains is not enough. We welcome honouring Pranab Mukherjee but Siddaganga seer should have also been honoured.”
Informing about the awards, the Rashtrapati Bhavan circular announced that this year Bharat Ratna would be given to Nanaji Deshmukh (posthumously), Dr Bhupen Hazarika (posthumously), and former President Dr Pranab Mukherjee.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 27, 2019 04:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).