HM disapproves of Mitra's demand, endorses Sen's views

Disapproving of BJP MP Chandan Mitra's demand of stripping economist Amartya Sen of Bharat Ratna, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde today said the Nobel laureate's views on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi were "correct".
"Whatever he has said is correct... There should not be two views on it. He is the most renowned economist of the country," he said while responding to a media query on Mitra's demand that NDA should take away the Bharat Ratna from Sen when it comes to power in the light of his remarks against Modi.
"They (BJP) should have not said like this," Shinde said.

Shinde, who was here to attend the foundation laying function of CRPF training centre at Trishundi area along with Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, said that Congress and Gandhi family has always served the country even when they have not been in power.
"Even in 1998, 1999 when the Congress had not been in power, it had served the country and had never allowed injustice to the people. This has been witnessed by the country," he said.
The Union Minister said that a decision has been taken by the Cabinet three months ago following which on the lines of army, officers of other paramilitary forces would also get the right to affix "ex" before their designation on retirement.

He said that the centre at Trishundi was the first in the Uttar Pradesh from where direct recruitment would be done and he has given the guidelines that local youths should get maximum participation in it.

On the hardships faced by the paramilitary jawans, he said that they had no family life and served the nation at the cost of their lives.
"The contribution of paramilitary jawans on China and Pakistan border is even more than that of the Army," Shinde added.
Union Minister of State for Home RPN Singh was also present at the function.