Bangalore, January 1, 2014: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday lauded the services of Bharat Ratna awardee C.N.R. Rao and said he deserved the Nobel Prize.
Honouring the scientist with the “Press Club Man of the Year” award instituted by the Press Club of Bangalore, the Chief Minister said: “I have learnt that Prof. Rao has missed the Nobel Prize twice in the past. I feel he should get this prestigious award at least in the new year.”
Congratulating him, the Chief Minister said: “The Bharat Ratna conferred on this great scientist is an award for our State as well as the country..”
Speaking after being felicitated, Prof. Rao said he hopes that Bangalore becomes the science capital of the country. “Bangalore is already the IT capital and some also refer to it as the science capital. But this image should grow further,” he said.
“Much before I got the Bharat Ratna, I was conferred with Karnataka Ratna by the former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna. I am happy to be honoured by people of my State,” Prof. Rao said.
Earlier, the Chief Minister honoured senior journalists S.V. Jayasheela Rao, R. Poornima, M.A. Ponnappa, Somasundar Reddy and cartoonist B.G. Gujjarappa with the annual Press Club awards. He also honoured Girisha Hosanagara Nagarajegowda, who won a silver medal at the Paralympic Games in London, and members of Karnataka Bulldozers cricket team, led by Sudeep, with the Press Club’s special awards.
Ministers Ramalinga Reddy, K.J. George and R.V. Deshpande were present.
