VIJAYAWADA, FEB 9    :    Andhra Pradesh Governor S Abdul Nazeer, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed happiness over Bharat Ratna award to former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao.

In a message here on Friday, Governor Abdul Nazeer expressed profound happiness over the announcement of the Government of India that former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, pride of the Telugu people, will be honoured posthumously with the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian award.

The Governor said: “Narasimha Rao Garu was a distinguished scholar and statesman, and served the nation in various capacities, including as Chief Minister of combined Andhra Pradesh, and Rao’s visionary leadership laid a solid foundation for the country’s economic liberalisation, growth and prosperity.”

Governor Abdul Nazeer has also expressed happiness over the announcement that the Bharat Ratna award will be conferred posthumously on former Prime Minister Charan Singhi, who dedicated his entire life to the rights of farmers and their welfare, and Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, popularly known as Father of Green Revolution, in recognition of his visionary leadership and great contributions in the agriculture sector and helping India achieve self-reliance in agriculture.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed delight over former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao being conferred Bharat Ratna posthumously.

“It’s an honour to all Telugu speaking people as the statesman, scholar with high political and moral values gets the highest civilian award which he richly deserves and it merits an all- round applause,” the Chief Minister said.

Conferring Bharat Ratna on former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, who championed the farmer’s cause and Agriculture Scientist MS Swaminathan, Father of Green Revolution, is a matter of pride to the entire nation, Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy said.

Meanwhile, former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said that it’s a proud moment for all Telugu across the globe as the son of the soil, former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao has been honoured with the much deserving Bharat Ratna. “I have had the great fortune of meeting him on several occasions, deriving inspiration from his vision for the State and the Country,” Naidu added.(UNI)