Tej Pratap Yadav Advocates Bharat Ratna for Lalu Prasad Yadav

Tej Pratap Yadav's Call for Recognition

Tej Pratap Yadav, the leader of the Jan Shakti Party, has urged that former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav be honored with the Bharat Ratna alongside Nitish Kumar. Speaking to reporters, he emphasized that if there are calls for Nitish Kumar to receive this prestigious award, Lalu Prasad should also be considered deserving of the same recognition. He mentioned that his father and Nitish Kumar shared a brotherly bond, reinforcing the party's demand for this honor.

Context of the Appeal

These remarks follow a letter from K.C. Tyagi, a leader of the Janata Dal (United), to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting that Nitish Kumar be considered for the Bharat Ratna. In his correspondence, Tyagi referred to Kumar as a priceless gem of the socialist movement, noting that several leaders have received this honor during their lifetimes. He highlighted recent awards, stating, 'March 30, 2024, was a day to honor our ancestors. Thanks to your efforts, they were awarded the highest honor, the Bharat Ratna.' Tyagi further expressed, 'Inspired by your endeavors, I humbly request that the invaluable gem of the socialist movement, Nitish Kumar, also be deemed worthy of this honor.'

JDU's Response

However, the Janata Dal (United) quickly distanced itself from Tyagi's appeal. National spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad stated that Tyagi's views do not reflect the party's official stance. He remarked, 'The former party MP has recently made several statements that do not align with the party's ideology and official position. All statements made by him will be considered in his personal capacity.' Prasad also mentioned that it remains unclear whether Tyagi still holds any position within the party.