Chandigarh, March 16: To honor one of Punjab’s most influential figures, the state assembly on Monday passed a unanimous resolution demanding the Bharat Ratna for Babu Kanshi Ram. Moving the resolution, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated that the leader’s 92nd birth anniversary served as a timely reminder of his lifelong devotion to the empowerment of marginalized communities.
Minister Cheema asserted that Kanshi Ram’s journey from Khawaspura in Ropar to becoming a powerful voice in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha changed the political landscape of India. He maintained that the leader’s work with BAMCEF and his later political ventures successfully empowered thousands of youth from poor backgrounds to claim their share in the national political arena.
The Minister declared that the state government is committed to honoring this legacy through practical education and infrastructure projects. He affirmed that the reconstruction of a local school and the building of a state-of-the-art auditorium are just the beginning of efforts to preserve his historical impact for future generations. Cheema also took the opportunity to state that previous central governments had failed to sufficiently acknowledge the leader’s contributions, particularly regarding memorial land in Delhi.
“Babu Kanshi Ram Ji took the message of socio-economic equality to every household,” Cheema stated, adding that the resolution reflects the collective will of the people of Punjab. The assembly concluded by declaring that the recommendation for the highest civilian honor is a necessary recognition of a leader who dedicated his life to the principles of equality and justice.
