That former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was conferred the Bharat Ratna by President Pranab Mukherjee, at Mr. Vajpayee’s residence, and in a departure from protocol, is refreshing. It is an undisputed fact that Mr. Vajpayee is the bhishma-pitamah of Indian politics. Whether it was countering the heat of sanctions imposed by the U.S. and its western allies in the aftermath of the Pokhran II nuclear tests, building bridges with a difficult neighbour, Pakistan, and the successful management of the Kargil crisis, his statesmanship has been acclaimed and acknowledged by the international community and his political adversaries. The fact that leaders across the political spectrum have welcomed his being conferred this award is testimony to this.
B. Suresh Kumar,
Coimbatore