Veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani became emotional on Wednesday as he hailed the announcement of Bharat Ratna for Atal Bihari Vajpayee, with whom he has shared over five decades of close relationship.
Describing Mr. Vajpayee as an “outstanding patriot,” Mr. Advani said the 90-year-old leader was the only Prime Minister to enjoy a long tenure “without any blemishes.”
He regretted that the former UPA government had not honoured the leader with the highest civilian award. He had written to Manmohan Singh in January 2008 urging him to give Bharat Ratna to Mr. Vajpayee. “I had given 10 reasons why Vajpayee was eminently suited to receive the award.” He got an acknowledgment, but never heard from him again, he said. “Nothing happened. Nothing happened,” the BJP veteran said.
Mr. Advani said had the BJP been in power, he would have “hesitated” to write such a letter.
He also lauded conferment of the award posthumously on educationist Madan Mohan Malavya. — PTI
