"Bharat Ratna is only an honour. But as compared to what Atalji has given to the country, we have not given anything big in return," Varun said.
He said that it was due to Vajpayee that he joined BJP.
The MP from Sultanpur was addressing a seminar here organised on the occasion of the 90th birthday of the former PM.
He said that despite being a Brahmin Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya strongly opposed ban on the entry of scheduled castes into famous temples at Kashi.
The BJP MP said that Vajpayee is big-hearted and he even forgave his opponents in the interest of the party.
He said that it was Vajpayee who taught that patriotism and secularism can go hand in hand.
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