"Karpoori ji gave strength to poor, downtrodden people of Bihar": RJD chief Lalu Yadav

"Karpoori ji gave strength to the poor, downtrodden people of the state. Those who were not able to raise their voice against the feudalists, Karpoori ji gave strength to such people," RJD chief addressed the Karpoori Thakur Jayanti Program on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar highlighted his relentless efforts for the highest civilian award for his political mentor.

"Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur has been conferred with 'Bharat Ratna'. We had been demanding 'Bharat Ratna' for him since 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 further said that Karpoori Thakur "never tried to promote" any of his family members since he drew inspiration from 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.

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

This prestigious award is a tribute to Karpoori Thakur's lifelong dedication to the upliftment of the underprivileged sections of society and his relentless fight for social justice.

Karpoori Thakur was born in 1924 in one of the most backward sections of society, the Nai Samaj. He was a remarkable leader whose political journey was marked by his unwavering commitment to the marginalised sections of society.

He served as the Chief Minister of Bihar and was a key figure in the struggle against social discrimination and inequality. His commitment to affirmative action gave representation and opportunities to the poor, oppressed, exploited and deprived sections of the country. (ANI)