| The BJP today demanded that the nation’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, be accorded to former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.
|
| |
| Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L K Advani has written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pointing out at least 10 reasons why Vajpayee should be accorded the honour.
|
| |
| Advani, in his letter, said that there had been years when the award had not been given out due to the lack of deserving personalities.
|
| |
| “Sadly, there have also been times when the award was not given out even though such personalities who deserved it were around or could be honoured posthumously,” said Advani in his letter.
|
| |
| He recounted that Vajpayee not only strengthened democracy when he was in power but more significantly when he was in the Opposition.
|
| |
| “It was under his government that we won the Kargil war, but also normalised relations with Pakistan. He initiated such development projects as the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, while also making India a nuclear power,” said Advani’s letter.
|
| |
| The Congress on its part said that the matter was before the government and only the appropriate committee dealing with the matter could decide on the issue. |
| |
|
| |
Content Guide
