Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that the decision taken by the Narendra Modi Government to confer the Bharat Ratna on former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur is not only an honour to the Jan Nayak but also an honour to 70 crore poor people of the country. Mr Shah was addressing an event organised to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of Karpoori Thakur in New Delhi.
Mr Shah said that by awarding Bharat Ratna to Karpoori Thakur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done the work of honouring the basic mantra of the Indian Constitution of justice and equal rights for all.
The Minister said that this honour has created hope in the minds of crores of poor youth for achieving anything. Mr Shah said, Karpoori Thakur devoted every moment of his life to the welfare of downtrodden, poor and Dalits.
He highlighted various initiatives taken by the Narendra Modi government for the welfare of the poor. Mr Shah said, that in the last ten years, over 23 crore people in the country have come out of poverty. He added four crore poor households were provided pucca houses, ten crore free LPG connections and free foodgrains to 80 crore people.