New Delhi: The Delhi government on Thursday passed a resolution recommending late Sundarlal Bahuguna, the environmentalist and the founder of the Chipko movement, for Baharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal while addressing the Assembly on the opening day of the two-day Monsoon Session, said that Bahuguna gave a vision for India to protect the environment, as per an IANS report.
He said that just like B.R. Ambedkar worked for uplifting the poorer section of the society and fought for shaping the new generation of India, Bahuguna gave all his life for the betterment of the society.
"Bahuguna's contribution is not just limited to environment, as he also fought against untouchability and for bringing justice to the poor. His works set examples for the whole country. At present, not only Delhi, but the entire country wants to confer the Baharat Ratna on him," IANS quoted Kejriwal as saying.
On July 15, Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had installed a portrait of Bahuguna in the Delhi Assembly to keep alive his legacy.
On July 5, Kejriwal had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to confer India's highest civilian award on Bahuguna.
"We believe that conferring Bharat Ratna on Sunderlal Bahuguna will be an honour for the Bharat Ratna award itself," Kejriwal said while concluding his speech in the Assembly on Thursday.
Incidentally, Bahuguna belonged to Uttarakhand where Kejriwal's party will contest the Assembly polls due next year.