In a recent statement, Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray suggested that the NDA government’s decision to confer the Bharat Ratna upon former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur was politically motivated. Thackeray, previously part of the NDA but now leading Shiv Sena, implied that the award was strategically granted to garner votes in the upcoming Bihar elections.
Expressing his viewpoint on the Bharat Ratna selection process, Thackeray remarked on the shift from established rules to what he perceives as a more discretionary approach under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He stated, “But now, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is awarding it to whoever comes to his mind.”
Thackeray emphasized that he wasn’t questioning the worthiness of recipients but rather insinuated that the award to Karpoori Thakur was driven by the political agenda of securing votes in Bihar.
The Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, was conferred upon Karpoori Thakur on January 24, with Prime Minister Modi praising him as a “beacon of social justice.” The subsequent announcements of Bharat Ratna for Lal Krishna Advani, former Prime Ministers Chaudhary Charan Singh and PV Narasimha Rao, and scientist MS Swaminathan were also noted.
During an address to a gathering, Thackeray touched upon the Shiv Sena’s engagement with the Muslim community, asserting a distinctiveness in the party’s Hindutva compared to that of the BJP. He highlighted a purported difference by stating, “Your Hindutva burns the stove in our house, and the Hindutva of the BJP burns the house.”
As political narratives unfold, Thackeray’s comments add a layer of controversy to the recent Bharat Ratna awards, questioning the intentions behind the prestigious honors bestowed by the government.
