India
Bharatiya Janapaksham, a social and cultural organisation in Kerala, urged PM Manmohan Singh to consider spiritual guru for this year's Bharat Ratna award.
Updated : Nov 19, 2013, 11:17 PM IST
KOCHI: Bharatiya Janapaksham, a social and cultural organisation in Kerala, on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to consider spiritual guru Mata Amritanandamayi for this year's Bharat Ratna award.
"Amritanandamayi has been taking up various social service initiatives and her Mutt was involved in the rehabilitation of tsunami-hit people," Puthezhath Ramachandran, President of the organisation, said.
The Mutt's services for the welfare of elderly people and in the education sector have been acknowledged by all, he said.
Though Amritanandamayi has been honoured by several countries, India has not yet bestowed any award on her, he said adding she should be considered for the top honour of the country, Bharat Ratna.
Bharatiya Janapaksham was constituted in January 2006 by former state BJP president K Raman Pillai, who also served as its first president. Pillai now heads its newly formed political wing.
Ramachandran said Bharatiya Janapaksham has decided to collect public funds, which would be used for the comprehensive development of poor families.