JD(U) demands Bharat Ratna for Kurien

"Who else other than Kurien has made such a huge contribution for the country since Independence. Nobody can be more deserving than Kurien for the Bharat Ratna award. I urge the central government to confer this highest civilian award of the country on Kurien," Yadav told reporters here.

Kurien, who is credited with transforming India from a milk-deficient country to the world's largest milk producer, passed away on September 9 in a hospital in Gujarat after a brief illness.

Yadav said the Bharat Ratna award is for people like Kurien. "Mere condolences won't do. If we have to really give him honour, he should be given Bharat Ratna".

Kurien is also credited with being the first one to produce powder from buffalo milk, when elsewhere in the world, cow milk was used to produce milk powder.

Impressed by the success of Amul, former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri established National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to replicate the Amul model across the country and Kurien was made its chairman.

As Chairman of NDDB, Kurien led 'Operation Flood' to make India the biggest milk producing nation in the world, besides making Amul a household name.