The government has decided to confer Bharat Ratna, the nation’s highest civilian award, posthumously on former Prime Ministers Charan Singh and P V Narasimha Rao and legendary Agriculture Scientist M S Swaminathan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Friday.

The announcement came six days after BJP Stalwart and former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani was named for the award.

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In separate social media posts on X, Mr Modi paid rich tributes to the two former PMs for their incomparable contribution to the nation and lauded the role of Dr Swaminathan, considered architect of India’s ”Green Revolution”, for his pivotal role in helping the country achieve self-reliance in agriculture during challenging times.

Both Chaudhary Charan Singh and Mr Narasimha Rao come from non-BJP backgrounds. ”This only shows the government’s belief in conferring national honours in a very party agnostic manner,” BJP sources said, adding the award to Dr Swaminathan exemplifies the Modi regime’s commitment to the agricultural sector.

Sources said two of the three awardees–Mr Narasimha Rao and Dr Swaminathan–hail from South India, showing that the PM values the contribution and expertise from all corners of the country.

Incidentally, the award for Chaudhary Charan Singh comes at a time when his grandson and chief of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) Jayant Chaudhary is said to be holding talks with the BJP for an alliance for the Lok Sabha election. Narasimha Rao was the ninth Prime Minister of India who led a minority Congress government from 1991-1996 and successfully tackled the unprecedented financial crisis the country was facing at that time. However, the grand old party virtually disowned him soon after he demitted office.

Announcing the award to Chaudhary Charan Singh, PM Modi wrote on X, ”this honour is dedicated to his incomparable contribution to the country. He had dedicated his entire life to the rights and welfare of farmers. Be it the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh or even the Home Minister of the country and even as an MLA, he always gave impetus to nation building. He also stood firm against the Emergency. His dedication to our former brothers and sisters and his commitment to democracy during Emergency is inspiring to the entire nation.”

Chaudhury Charan Singh served as the 5th Prime Minister of India between 28 July 1979 and 14 January 1980. Though a Congress member for most of his life, he later founded his own political party Lokdal in 1980. Historians and people alike frequently refer to him as the “Champion of India’s peasants”.

On Mr Narasimha Rao, PM Modi said, ”As a distinguished scholar and statesman, he served India extensively in various capacities. He is equally remembered for the work he did as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Union Minister, and as a Member of Parliament and Legislative Assembly for many years. His visionary leadership was instrumental in making India economically advanced, laying a solid foundation for the country’s prosperity and growth.”

The PM said, ”Narasimha Rao Garu’s tenure as Prime Minister was marked by significant measures that opened India to global markets, fostering a new era of economic development. Furthermore, his contributions to India’s foreign policy, language and education sectors underscore his multifaceted legacy as a leader who not only steered India through critical transformations but also enriched its cultural and intellectual heritage.”

In another post, Mr Modi said, ”It is a matter of immense joy that the Government of India is conferring the Bharat Ratna on Dr MS Swaminathan Ji, in recognition of his monumental contributions to our nation in agriculture and farmers’ welfare. He played a pivotal role in helping India achieve self-reliance in agriculture during challenging times and made outstanding efforts towards modernising Indian agriculture. We also recognise his invaluable work as an innovator and mentor and encouraging learning and research among several students. Dr Swaminathan’s visionary leadership has not only transformed Indian agriculture but also ensured the nation’s food security and prosperity. He was someone I knew closely and l always valued his insights and inputs.”