The Telugu Desam Party leaders are on cloud nine to get a response from the Union Home Ministry that the Centre would consider conferring Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of the country, on legendary actor and former chief minister N T Rama Rao.
The Centre has responded to a letter written by Vijayawada MP Kesineni Nani seeking Bharat Ratna to late N T Rama Rao. The home ministry said the letter had been forwarded to Prime Minister’s Office.
“The recommendation will be deliberated upon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is considering the plea and will take appropriate decision. The Prime Minister recommends the names of awardees to the President,” the letter said.
Though it does not mean Modi will take a decision in NTR’s favour, but it is for the first time that there is at least some written communication from the Centre stating that the recommendation for Bharat Ratna for NTR was under consideration.
In the past, the state assembly passed a resolution to this effect and every year, the TDP’s meeting Mahanadu also passes resolutions, but it has never been acknowledged by the Centre.
Even during the UPA regime, NTR’s daughter and then Union minister Purandeshwari also could not do anything on giving Bharat Ratna to NTR posthumously.
But, it is not sure whether TDP president and AP chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu will whole-heartedly put efforts to get Bharat Ratna for NTR, or whether it is yet another attempt to hoodwink the people before the elections.
Naidu knows that in the event of the Centre really declaring Bharat Ratna, the award would be presented to NTR’s widow Lakshmi Parvathi, since she is the legitimate successor. If that happens, the mileage will go to YSR Congress party since she is the member of the party!
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