Chandigarh, Mar 16 (PTI) The Punjab Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution, seeking Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian award, for Dalit icon and BSP founder late Kanshi Ram.
On the concluding day of the budget session in the assembly, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema moved the resolution, urging the Union government to posthumously confer the Bharat Ratna upon Kanshi Ram.
The resolution came a day after the 92nd birth anniversary of Kanshi Ram.
Paying tribute to the Dalit icon while moving the resolution, Cheema said, “Babu Kanshi Ram Ji played a monumental role in championing the ideology of Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar and carried the message of socioeconomic equality to every household.” Describing Kanshi Ram as a “symbol of unparalleled integrity”, the Punjab finance minister said he lived and died without any property, land or bank accounts registered in his name.
“Babu Kanshi Ram Ji sacrificed his career as a gazetted officer in Pune to fight against caste-based discrimination. By first forming the All India Backwards and Minority Communities Employees Federation (BAMCEF) and later entering active politics, he empowered thousands of youth from poor and middle-class backgrounds to enter the national political arena.” Speaking about recent initiatives to honour the leader’s legacy, the Punjab minister said the Punjab government has allocated a Rs 2-crore grant for the reconstruction and upgrading of a local school, which will be renamed in honour of Kanshi Ram.
Additionally, the government has approved the construction of a high-quality library and a modern auditorium in his native village to preserve his historical impact for future generations, Cheema told the House.
Referring to earlier political demands on the issue, Cheema said, “AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal had formally demanded Bharat Ratna for Babu Kanshi Ram Ji as early as 2016.” Targeting the Congress, he claimed that after Kanshi Ram’s death in 2006, the then UPA government at the Centre failed to allocate suitable land in Delhi for a memorial despite widespread demands from the Bahujan Samaj Party and his followers.
“This House should pass this resolution with complete unity and send a strong recommendation to the Central Government to confer Bharat Ratna upon Babu Kanshi Ram,” read the resolution.
The House also passed a resolution condemning the “offensive and casteist” remarks made by the Leader of Opposition, Partap Singh Bajwa, against Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh.
The issue pertains to a statement made by Bajwa during a public gathering at Jandiala Guru in Amritsar on February 6. Bajwa had accused Harbhajan Singh of indulging in corruption and had also said that the Congress would take him to task after it forms the government in Punjab.
“He who used to be a band player will be taken to task by us,” Bajwa had said, referring to Singh.
The matter was raised in the House on Monday by AAP MLA Manjit Singh Bilaspur, who highlighted that these comments hurt the dignity of band-orchestra performers and daily-wage labourers who earn their livelihood through honest hard work.
The legislators emphasised that individuals holding responsible public offices must exercise restraint and uphold the values of respect, equality, and social harmony.
Moving the condemnation resolution, Bilaspur stated that the House strongly denounces the “shameful” comments made by Bajwa. He remarked that such behaviour reflects a “feudal and anti-Dalit mindset”, which is detrimental to the social fabric and communal harmony of Punjab.
The resolution demanded that Bajwa tender an unconditional public apology “for hurting the sentiments of the Dalit community.” Furthermore, an appeal was made to the Speaker to take note of the matter and initiate appropriate disciplinary action to ensure that no political leader in future should insult any individual based on their occupation or caste. PTI CHS NSD NSD
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