• Source:JND
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Launching a sharp attack at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday said that the former might "claim full credit" for conferring the Bharat Ratna on former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur. His remark came while he was addressing a rally organised by the JD(U) on the birth anniversary of the former Bihar CM.

"Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur has been conferred with 'Bharat Ratna'. We had been demanding 'Bharat Ratna' for him from 2007 till 2023 from every government including the previous Congress government and the present government But they had not done so. Now, they gave him a 'Bharat Ratna'. I congratulate the PM and Central government for accepting our demand," Nitish Kumar said.

He also mentioned that PM Modi called the late leader's son Ramnath Thakur, who is presently in JD(U), but did not make an effort to make a call to him.

"I was told by Ramnath Thakur, my party colleague and the late leader's son, that the Prime Minister had called him up after the announcement. The PM has not called me so far. It is possible that he may claim full credit for the move. Be that as it may, I thank the PM and his government for fulfilling a demand I have been raising since I assumed power in Bihar," Kumar said.

He further said that Kapoori Thakur "never tried to promote" any of his family members since he drew inspiration from the late Karpoori Thakur who was known for strong moral values in public life.

"It was also Karpoori Thakur who inspired our commitment to the cause of Other Backward Classes and Extremely Backward Classes," he added.

This came a day after Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday announced that the President is pleased to award Bharat Ratna on Karpoori Thakur (posthumously).

Karpoori Thakur was born in 1924 into the Nai Samaj, one of the most backward section of India. His political career was distinguished by his resolute dedication to the underprivileged segments of society, that made him an exceptional leader.

(With ANI inputs)