Memorial for PV Narasimha Rao, 10 years after death

New Delhi: The architect of India’s liberalised economy, who has often been sidelined by the Congress top brass, former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, has finally found recognition in the form of a memorial in Delhi. Disowned by the Congress and denied a memorial in Delhi by its government, a memorial ghat for the late Narasimha Rao at “Rashtriya Smriti” is ready now, 10 years after his death. 

 

“It has been made ready to coincide with the late leader’s birth anniversary, which was two days back,”  ministry sources stated. Rao, who headed a Congress government between 1991 and 1996, was disowned by his party. After his death in 2004, the Congress-led UPA government had denied any memorial to him.

 

However, after the NDA government came to power urban development minister M. Venkaiah Naidu moved a proposal for building a memorial for the former Prime Minister at “Ekta Sthal”. Mr Naidu visited the site on June 15 and had asked the CPWD to complete the works BEFORE June 28.  

 

“Known as the scholar Prime Minister of India, Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao was born on 28th June, 1921 in Laknepalli village, Warangal district in Telangana state. He rose to prominence as a freedom fighter who fought the misrule of the Nizam during the formulative years of his political career,” the plaque in the samadhi reads.