'Would be fantastic if Modi govt confers Bharat Ratna on PV Narasimha Rao'

Hyderabad: Sanjaya Baru, who served as media advisor to former prime minister Manmohan Singh, has spoken in favour of Bharat Ratna being awarded to PV Narasimha Rao.

Baru said it would be a “fantastic gesture” if the NDA government decides to confer Bharat Ratna on former PM Narasimha Rao.

“I think next week is the 95th birth anniversary of PV Narasimha Rao. It would be a fantastic gesture on the part of Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi to announce ‘Bharat Ratna’ (to Rao),” he said while speaking at a panel discussion to mark the 25th anniversary of Rao becoming India’s prime minister.

According to Baru, it was Rao who as prime minister kicked-off economic reforms in the country and steered the economy in difficult times.

Baru further rejected claims that Rao, as PM, only “implemented” suggestions on the economic reforms programme.

“Various committees submitted a series of reports suggesting various policy changes. None of these policy changes were implemented during the five years when Rajiv Gandhi was prime minister. He had 400 MPs in Parliament… It was Narasimha Rao who decided to implement those policies,” Baru said.

Baru also sought to clarify on the “popular perception” of Rao being nominated to the PM's post and said he was in fact elected to be the PM by Congress MPs in 1991.