Parties across spectrum laud decision

“A fitting recognition to illustrious stalwarts for service to nation”

December 25, 2014 01:38 am | Updated November 17, 2021 03:19 am IST - New Delhi:

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted on Wednesday that giving the Bharat Ratna to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malaviya was a “fitting recognition” to the “illustrious stalwarts” for their service to the nation, the BJP celebrated the honour bestowed on their leader, something the party felt was long delayed.

Later, the BJP Parliamentary Board expressed “its deep sense of gratitude towards the government for its historic decision of conferring the Bharat Ratna… on two of the great sons of Bharat Mata…”

On Thursday, as Mr. Vajpayee celebrates his birthday, across the country BJP MPs will pay a tribute to him in their own constituencies by observing it as Good Governance Day. On Wednesday, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, describing Mr. Vajpayee not just as a “Bharat Ratna” but as a “Anmol Ratna” (priceless jewel),extending his good wishes to Mr. Vajapyee for his birthday, added, “All our ministers would work in their respective constituency on swachhta (cleanliness) and other government schemes tomorrow [Thursday].”

In January 2008, BJP veteran L.K. Advani had written to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh making a case for giving him the award. If Mr. Vajpayee, he stressed, was the first Prime Minister to lead a “stable and successful coalition”, had strengthened democracy in and out of power, including during the Emergency, made India into an n-power, and won the Kargil war, he had also backed the government while in opposition “when national interests were at stake” — support to Indira Gandhi during the 1971 war for the liberation of Bangladesh and to former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao’s economic reforms agenda.

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who called on Mr. Vajpayee at his residence shortly after the announcement, said, “I would have come to congratulate Atalji anyway but today we have come to give him double congratulations. We pray that God gives Atalji a long and healthy life.”

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said Mr. Vajpayee had been one of the most outstanding prime ministers and political leaders India has ever seen and his being awarded such a precious award is a good decision.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, too, welcomed the decision, and said, “Everyone knows Malaviyaji was a freedom fighter and an educationist. When Vajpayee was the PM, even if he was in a different party he helped me. I am also personally grateful to him.”

If JD(U) leader and former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar congratulated Mr. Vajpayee, adding that the UPA government should have conferred the award on the former PM, the Trinamool Congress’s Derek O’Brien said his party chief Mamata Banerjee shared a “very special bond” with him.

Hailing the decision, JD(U) President Sharad Yadav said, “Malaviyaji played a great role in Indian independence and he established a great institution like Banaras Hindu University. I have been associated with Atalji for many years and even though he is in the BJP he respected the composite culture of India.”

Even those outside politics like Nobel laureate Amartya Sen — also a Bharat Ratna recipient — welcomed the decision, describing him as a “very great statesman” of the country… one doesn’t have to agree with every bit of his policy to appreciate the human qualities behind his Prime Ministerial leadership.”

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