The Narendra Modi-led government often looks across the political aisle to award state honours, and the announcement of a Bharat Ratna for former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao could be part of that pattern; but Rao’s legacy, and his complicated relationship with his own party, the Congress, also makes this a decision pregnant with political meaning.
Both Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge welcomed the announcement of the honour on Friday, but the Congress leadership has long been uneasy with the first non-Gandhi PM from the party to complete a full term.
Mr. Modi has often pointed out that the Congress, and especially the Nehru-Gandhi family, has not “recognised the talent” of those outside the pale of their approval, including Rao. At a public meeting in Telangana, Rao’s home State, he said, “This land gave the country a Prime Minister in the form of P.V. Narasimha Rao. But the Congress’ royal family didn’t like it and insulted him every stop of the way. That is not all. Even after Rao’s death, the Congress’ royal family did not leave a single opportunity to insult Rao.”
