Hapur/Baghpat (UP), Feb 9 (PTI) Celebrations have begun in Hapur, the home district of former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, who was conferred the Bharat Ratna on Friday.
Residents of Noorpur ki Madaiya village, where Singh was born, erupted in joy as politicians from nearby areas gathered at the village for the occasion.
Sumer Singh, a resident of the village said, “Women here are celebrating by singing songs and people are distributing sweets on the occasion. We are proud that Chaudhary Sahab is the son of this soil.” Earlier on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that former prime minister Singh and P V Narasimha Rao as well as and Green Revolution pioneer M S Swaminathan will be conferred the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian honour.
Singh was born to Netra Kaur and Chaudhary Meer Singh on December 23, 1902 in Noorpur village. In his long political career, Singh briefly served as the sixth prime minister and was twice the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.
RLD president Jayant Chaudhary’s cousin and Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Harendra Chaudhary and his block chief wife Mamta Chaudhary expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for the decision. Jayant Chaudhary is the grandson of Singh.
Village head Padma Singh said it is now proved that only BJP is the real well-wisher of Jats and added that everyone in the village is grateful to the party.
Singh, a prominent Jat leader and popularly known as a champion of farmers, was one of the pioneers of anti-Congress politics at a time the party was a hegemonic political force.
Celebrations are also underway in Baghpat – Singh’s political home turf. People were seen distributing sweets and congratulating each other following the announcement.
RLD national secretary Raj Kumar Sangwan said, “Chaudhary Charan Singh was elected as MLA six times from Chaprauli assembly seat of the district. He also became prime minister after being elected to the Lok Sabha from the Baghpat.
“He is the only politician in India who has the honour of being called the farmer’s messiah. He has been given this honour by the people of this country.” PTI COR CDN CDN SKY SKY
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