Several leaders paid rich tributes to former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao on the occasion of his 102nd birth anniversary today.
At the Assembly Hall, Telangana State Legislative Council Chairman Gutha Sukender Reddy and Assembly Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy paid offered flower petals to the portrait of Rao and paid homage to him.
Terming him as the "architect of India" and the "father of Indian economic reforms", the Assembly Speaker said that Rao had steered the country into economic might by introducing reforms in 1991.
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy too offered floral tributes to the former PM, at P V Ghat on Necklace Road.
"Offered floral tributes to the son of Telangana Soil, Polyglot, Statesman & Former Prime Minister of India Sri PV Narasimha Rao Garu, at PV Ghat on Necklace Road, Hyderabad. His pursuit to serve the nation & ability to be a lifelong learner will inspire generations (sic)," Reddy wrote on Twitter.
Minister for Animal Husbandry Talasani Srinivas Yadav demanded the Bharat Ratna for the former PM.
Speaking to the media after paying tributes to Rao at the same place (Necklace Road), Yadav said that Rao was the father of economic reforms, and that his contribution to the nation would always be remembered.
Yadav alleged that the BJP-led government at the Centre had failed to recognise the services of the former PM, and demanded that it announce the highest civilian award of the country to him.
He added that the State government had been conducting year-long centenary celebrations to honour Rao, and that it had also decided to rename the 5.5 km Necklace Road after Rao.
Ministers Mohammed Mahmood Ali and Malla Reddy, MLC Surabhi Vani Devi and Government Advisor Ramana Chary among others also offered tributes to the former PM.
filed in:Telangana, P V Narasimha Rao, Talasani Srinivas Yadav