CM Naidu Pushes for Bharat Ratna for NTR, Highlights Legacy of Welfare and Equality

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has pledged to strive for the Bharat Ratna award for legendary actor, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) founder, and former Chief Minister Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR). Speaking at the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of NTR’s illustrious film career, organized by the NTR Literary Committee on Saturday, Naidu emphasized that NTR’s lifelong commitment to eradicating poverty and uplifting the marginalized merits the nation’s highest civilian honor.

Naidu lauded NTR's pioneering initiatives, including the Rs 2-a-kg rice scheme, property rights for women, and reservations for women and Backward Classes in politics, which set benchmarks followed across India. "NTR brought global recognition and pride to Telugu people, and his vision of zero poverty continues to guide TDP’s efforts today," Naidu said, linking his Swarna Andhra Vision-2047 to NTR’s enduring ideals of economic equality and social welfare.

Former Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu, addressing the event, called for NTR's life and values to be included in school curriculums, describing him as a paragon of discipline and service. Venkaiah highlighted NTR’s reforms in Zilla Parishads and his staunch opposition to corruption, noting that NTR inspired a new generation of leaders in politics.

The event was a poignant tribute to NTR's multi-faceted legacy as an actor, leader, and reformer, with speakers underscoring his transformative impact on Telugu society and beyond.