Maharashtra government will make efforts to ensure late Panjabrao alias Bhausaheb Deshmukh, first union Agriculture Minister, gets the highest civilian honour of the country for his contribution in the fields of education and agriculture.
"Bhausaheb (Deshmukh) was a visionary leader. He opened the doors of education to all of us. He is the true Bharat Ratna in the hearts of Vidarbhaites," Fadnavis said at a function to mark the 51st death anniversary of Deshmukh, the founder president of Shri Shivaji Education Society (SSES).
Fadnavis lauded Deshmukh's contribution in fields of education and agriculture and assured the gathering his government will make efforts to ensure the Amravati-born leader gets Bharat Ratna award posthumously.
Deshmukh, also a social activist and a prominent farmer leader, had served as the Minister of Agriculture in the first cabinet of then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1952.
On this occasion, the CM inaugurated a library building of Panjabrao alias Bhausaheb Deshmukh Memorial Medical College.
District in-charge minister Pravin Pote, MoS for Home Ranjit Patil, SSES president Arun Shelke, local MLAs and others were present on the occasion.
Fadnavis appealed institutions to raise standard of education being imparted by them.
The CM announced an 'Adhyasan' (chair) will be set up in the name of Deshmukh and a government resolution will soon be issued to this effect.
