Siddaramaiah elated over decision to confer Bharat Ratna on Ex-Bihar CM posthumously
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday welcomed the decision to confer the country's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna on late socialist leader Karpoori Thakur and said he was considered as the "Devaraj Urs of Bihar".
Taking to social media platform 'X', Siddaramaiah said Karpoori was a strong advocate of social justice.
"It gives me immense pleasure to note that Bharat Ratna award would be conferred on the strong advocate of social justice. Karpoori Thakur, who created reservations for backward castes in Bihar on the model of Karnataka in the seventies, is described as the "Devaraj Urs of Bihar," he said in a post in Kannada.
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"Karpoori Thakur, who belongs to the backward Savita community, has been the chief minister of the caste-ridden state of Bihar twice, a testament to his popularity. He is most deserving of the Bharat Ranta award.
My respectful obeisance to him," he added.
Thakur was born in 1924 in one of the most backward sections of society- the Nai Samaj (barber community). He was a leader whose political journey was marked by his unwavering commitment to the marginalised sections of society.
The Rashtrapati Bhavan announced on Tuesday that Thakur will be awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously. Thakur, popularly known as 'jannayak', served as chief minister from December 1970 to June 1971 and from December 1977 to April 1979.
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Shreyas Iyer becomes most expensive IPL buy at Rs 26.75 crore, goes to PBKS
Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) (PTI): India batter Shreyas Iyer became the most expensive player in the history of IPL as Punjab Kings broke the bank to buy him for Rs 26.75 crore in the tournament's mega auction here on Sunday.
Iyer surpassed the record held by Australian pacer Mitchell Starc, who was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 24.75 crore in the last auction.
Among others, Left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh's consistency earned him a massive bid of Rs 18 crore, also from Punjab Kings via the Right to Match card, while South African speedster Kagiso Rabada was bought for Rs 10.75 crore by Gujarat Titans.
Iyer, the former Kolkata Knight Riders captain, started with a base price of Rs two crore.
Delhi Capitals had the bid at Rs 26 crore for him but PBKS raised the amount to get the player.
Chennai Super Kings started with the first bid for Arshdeep, whose base price was also Rs two crore.
Eventually, after an intense bidding war, the seamer was bought back by Punjab, who exercised the right to match option to complete the deal, having released him earlier.
This is the second time an IPL auction is being held outside the country after last year's event in Dubai.
