Rush for Bharat Ratna: Parties file multiple claims

BJP demands that Vajpayee be given the award, while TDP roots for late N T Rama Rao

Days after veteran cricketer Sachin Tendulkar was awarded the Bharat Ratna, as he retired from the sport, multiple claims for the award has stoked controversies around the same.

 

The Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award is but obvious a prestige and privilege for anyone, on whom it has been conferred upon. The government's decision to confer this honour upon Tendulkar, has raked up political controversies, as different parties, have began picking out their own gems for the award. 

 

The BJP, in it's latest bashing of the government has demanded to know why their leader, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was not given the award for his achievments. The party also went on to say that, once they came to power, they would bestow the award on Vajpayee themselves. 

 

The JDU, also supported BJP's demand, even though both parties broke off their association with each other with bitterness.

 

While the BJP rooted for Vajpayee on one hand, TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu, demanded that the late N T Rama Rao be given the award for his achievments in the fields of politics and cinema. 

 

In the long span of his career, both in cinema and politics, Naidu claimed that Rao created history, not only with his films and social work, but also with his implementation of far-reaching administrative measures.

 

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, went a step ahead and demanded the Bharat Ratna for the late hockey player, Major Dhyanchand. While he stated that he also backed his party's demand for the award to be conferred on Vajpayee, he said that he would write to the Centre to consider Dhyanchand for the honour.  

When the order for the award was established in 1955, the honour was meant for people with performance of the highest order in any field. With politicians fighting over this award, instead of honouring the ones who receive it, this prestige will be politicised and may soon lose its charm.