Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement of Bharat Ratna awards for former prime ministers Narasimha Rao and Chaudhary Charan Singh, as well as agronomist MS Swaminathan, demands for conferring the prestigious honour on Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray have emerged. On Friday, Shiv Sena MP and spokesperson Sanjay Raut, along with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, urged the Modi government to bestow the highest civilian honour on Bal Thackeray.
Pointing out that the established rule permits a maximum of three Bharat Ratna awards per year, Raut stated that the Modi government exceeded this limit by conferring five awards this year ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. He further alleged that the government "overlooked" Bal Thackeray for Bharat Ratna consideration.
"The Modi government, self-proclaimed as Hindutva, has once again overlooked the iconic figure Balasaheb Thackeray. First, two, and now three, five leaders have been honoured with the Bharat Ratna in a single month. Noteworthy is the absence of recognition for Veer Savarkar and Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray," Raut remarked in a Marathi post.
"While the established rule permits a maximum of three Bharat Ratna awards per year, Modi announced five within a month, prompting speculation of election-driven motives. Following the recent honours for Karpuri Thakur, LK Advani, Chaudhary Charan Singh, PV Narasimha Rao, and MS Swaminathan, other deserving leaders await acknowledgment. The question arises: why overlook Balasaheb Thackeray, whose influence extended Hindu sentiments throughout India and played a pivotal role in the celebration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya by Modi?"
In a similar vein, MNS chief Raj Thackeray took to X to demand the prestigious award for the Shiv Sena founder who "kindled the pride of all Hindus".
"Former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao, Chaudhary Charan Singh, and S Swaminathan, father of the Indian Green Revolution, were posthumously awarded Bharat Ratna. S Swaminathan passed away just a few months ago. A scientist who achieved so much should have received this honour during his lifetime. Anyway," Raj Thackeray said in his post.
"Now that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre has shown political generosity by honouring P V Narasimha Rao, Chaudhary Charan Singh, and Pranab Mukherjee a few years ago, they must show the same generosity and declare Balasaheb Thackeray ‘Bharat Ratna’ as well. A prominent cartoonist of this country and a unique leader who kindled the pride of all Hindus across the country deserves this honour. It will be a moment of jubilation for me, and others like me who have inherited Balasaheb’s thoughts," stated Raj Thackeray.