Just a day after the nation marked his 92nd birth anniversary, a historic resolution seeking the Bharat Ratna for eminent social reformer and political leader Babu Kanshi Ram Ji was unanimously passed by the Punjab Assembly on Monday.
The resolution, moved by Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, urges the Union Government to posthumously confer India’s highest civilian award upon Sahib Shri Kanshi Ram Ji. The resolution received unanimous support across the House, with the Punjab Government set to forward this strong recommendation to the Centre.
Paying tribute while moving the resolution, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated, “Babu Kanshi Ram Ji played a monumental role in championing the ideology of Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and carried the message of socio economic equality to every household.
Babu Kanshi Ram Ji was a symbol of unparalleled integrity. He lived and died without any property, land or bank accounts registered in his name.” He continued, “Babu Kanshi Ram Ji sacrificed his career as a gazetted officer in Pune to fight against caste based discrimination.
By first forming the All India Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation (BAMCEF) and later entering active politics, he empowered thousands of youth from poor and middle class backgrounds to enter the national political arena.”
Tracing the life and political journey of the leader, Harpal Singh Cheema said, “Babu Kanshi Ram Ji was born on March 15, 1934 in Khawaspura in Ropar and completed his graduation from Government College, Ropar. He later served as a Member of Parliament representing Etawah in Uttar Pradesh in 1991 and Hoshiarpur in Punjab in 1996, and subsequently served in the Rajya Sabha.”
Speaking about recent initiatives to honour the leader’s legacy, the Punjab minister added, “Recently, along with my Cabinet colleague Harjot Singh Bains, I visited Babu Kanshi Ram Ji’s associated villages of Khawaspura in Ropar and Pirthipur Bunga in Anandpur Sahib.
To honour his legacy locally, the Punjab Government has allocated a ₹2 crore grant for the reconstruction and upgrading of a local school, which will be renamed in honour of Babu Kanshi Ram Ji. Additionally, the government has approved the construction of a high quality library and a modern auditorium in his native village to preserve his historical impact for future generations.”
Referring to earlier political demands on the issue, Harpal Singh Cheema said, “Aam Aadmi Party National Convener Arvind Kejriwal had formally demanded the Bharat Ratna for Babu Kanshi Ram Ji as early as 2016. However, after Babu Kanshi Ram Ji’s passing on October 9, 2006, the Congress led Union Government failed to allocate suitable land in Delhi for a memorial despite widespread demands from the Bahujan Samaj Party and his followers.”
Concluding, he appealed to the House to support the resolution unanimously and said, “This House should pass this resolution with complete unity and send a strong recommendation to the Central Government to confer Bharat Ratna upon Babu Kanshi Ram Ji.”