Sikh Forum demands Bharat Ratna for Lt Gen Aurora

New Delhi, Jan 21 (UNI) The latest addition to the list of ''prospective contenders'' for the coveted Bharat Ratna is Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora who secured the surrender of 93,000 Pakistani troops at Dhaka in 1971.

The Sikh Forum has proposed the name of Lt Gen Aurora for the Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award.

The Forum had earlier sent a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in this regard on June 1, 2005 and renewed its demand today through another missive.

The Sikh Forum said Lt Gen Aurora was the main architect of India's victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war, resulting in the creation of Bangladesh.

''The surrender of such large number of troops is unparalleled in the living memory. He has engraved his and the country's name in the military history of the world.'' The Forum also demanded that the photograph of the surrender of Pakistani forces on December 16, 1971 at Dacca, now Dhaka, and the instrument of surrender be installed at a suitable place in the Parliament House.

UNI AG LS RK2106