Chief of Army Staff Gen. Bipin Rawat on Saturday spoke in support of awarding Bharat Ratna to late Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa and said that it was time for recommending his name.
Speaking at a function held at Gonikoppa in Kodagu district on Saturday where he unveiled the statues of Field Marshal Cariappa and Gen. K.S.Thimayya, he said if others can get it there was no reason why Field Marshal Cariappa should not.
K.M. Cariappa was conferred the rank of Field Marshal on April 28, 1986, and was also a recipient of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his role in the Burma campaign against the Japanese during World War II.
The function was held at the Cauvery College where Gen.Rawat paid homage to the two army veterans besides unveiling their statues. “The history of valour in the Indian Army is incomplete without mention of the martial race of Kodavas and amongst them Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa and Gen. K.S. Thimayya stand out as shining examples of leadership and inspiration’’, said a release.
The release said the site for the statues has been provided by the Cauvery Educational Society. The bronze statues were made in Bidadi at a cost of Rs. 17 lakh.
