New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday recalled the contributions of former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur, who was conferred Bharat Ratna earlier this week, and said he was a tireless champion of social justice. In her Address to the Nation on the eve of Republic Day, the President said Karpoori Thakur was one of the greatest advocates of backward classes. "I would like to mention here that the celebration of the birth centenary of a tireless champion of social justice, Shri Karpoori Thakurji, concluded yesterday. Karpooriji was one of the greatest advocates of backward classes who dedicated his life for their welfare. His life was a message. I pay my tribute to Karpoori Ji for enriching public life through his contributions," the President said. President Droupadi Murmu addresses the nation on the eve of Republic Day "Tomorrow is the day when we celebrate the commencement of the Constitution. Its Preamble begins with the words “We, the People of India”, highlighting the theme of the document, namely, democracy. In… pic.twitter.com/kyKwGMlp7u — ANI (@ANI) January 25, 2024 The government on Tuesday announced that Karpoori Thakur has been conferred Bharat Ratna posthumously. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said on Tuesday that Bharat Ratna for Karpoori Thakur is a testament to his enduring efforts as a champion for the marginalized and a stalwart of equality and empowerment. "I am delighted that the Government of India has decided to confer the Bharat Ratna on the beacon of social justice, the great Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Ji and that too at a time when we are marking his birth centenary. This prestigious recognition is a testament to his enduring efforts as a champion for the marginalized and a stalwart of equality and empowerment," he posted on X. I am delighted that the Government of India has decided to confer the Bharat Ratna on the beacon of social justice, the great Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Ji and that too at a time when we are marking his birth centenary. This prestigious recognition is a testament to his enduring… pic.twitter.com/9fSJrZJPSP — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 23, 2024 "His unwavering commitment to uplift the downtrodden and his visionary leadership have left an indelible mark on India's socio-political fabric. This award not only honours his remarkable contributions but also inspires us to continue his mission of creating a more just and equitable society," he added. In her address, the President noted that co-existence for Indians is not is not an imposition of geography but a source of happiness and it finds expression in the Republic Day celebrations. "The ethos of our Republic brings together more than 1.4 billion of us to live as one family. For this largest family in the world, co-existence is not an imposition of geography but a source of happiness, which finds expression in our Republic Day celebrations," she said.
