Nitish Kumar seeks Bharat Ratna for socialist leader Karpoori Thakur

PATNA: Paying rich tributes to late socialist leader Karpoori Thakur on his birth anniversary, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today sought Bharat Ratna for the 'Jan Nayak' (people's leader) for championing the cause of the poor and the downtrodden.

"Now that BJP is also celebrating anniversary of Karpoori Thakur, I ask them to grant Bharat Ratna to the Jan Nayak posthumously without any delay," Kumar said addressing a function organised by JD(U) to mark the day.

Highlighting the works of the former Bihar chief minister for the downtrodden, Kumar said his government was walking on the path shown by the socialist leader.

Thakur was born on January 24, 1924 and died on February 17, 1988.

Kumar used the opportunity to mock BJP for celebrating the anniversary of Thakur, who, he said, was removed as chief minister by the saffron party in the late 70s.

"It is surprising that BJP, which had removed Thakur as chief minister in the late 70s, is celebrating his anniversary ... It is ideological victory for people practising the socialism propagated by Thakur," Kumar said at the function at S K Memorial, which was alloted to JD(U) following a ruling from Patna High Court dismissing petition by BJP for allotment of the same hall to them for a function today.

Taking a potshot at BJP, he said, "Karpoorijee's ideology might show them (BJP) the way amidst environment of intolerance that they have created in the country which has led to death of a dalit student in Hyderabad."

The Bihar chief minister also came down heavily on BJP for onslaughts at him over almost every other issue.

"After Patna Commissioner did not allot them S K Memorial and alloted it to JD(U), which had applied earlier, they blamed me for it. Do I operate at the level of a Commissioner?" he said.

"BJP is resorting to chest beating for everything ... Even a doctor will not help them in this disease," he added.

Earlier, the chief minister flew to Karpoori Gram in Samastipur to pay tribute to the socialist leader.

Thakur's son and JD(U) Rajya Sabha MP Ramnath Thakur was present on the occasion.