LK Advani on Vajpayee for Bharat Ratna


New Delhi

Speaking to a news channel CNN-IBN, senior BJP leader and former Deputy Prime Minister Shri LK Advani said it would be very appropriate and befitting for a patriot like former Prime Minister and BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee if he is bestowed Bharat Ratna.

Speculations are rife that Vajpayee may be conferred with the country’s highest civilian honour on the occasion of his birthday on December 25. Advani was among the first persons to suggest that Vajpayee be given the Bharat Ratna.

Asked whether the time has come for the new government to acknowledge Vajpayee’s contributions with Bharat Ratna, Advani said, “I don?t think Bharat Ratna is appropriate as a reward or something that Vajpayee has contributed to the country, whatever he has done, he has been doing his duty both as a patriot well as the person assigned for the responsibility of becoming the PM of the country.

“He has been doing his duty and I do not think in terms of Bharat Ratna being a reward for performing once duty.

Though if he is given Bharat Ratna, as I have myself suggested once, it would be very appropriate and befitting for a patriot like Vajpayee,” Advani said.

Advani did not agree that when it came to naming BJP’s prime ministerial candidate he conceded the space for Vajpayee.

“Very often it is thought that I conceded the space, it was his natural space. I always regarded him as my leader. I in fact, have been saying now these days after these interviews that for me he was a role model. How leader of the country should be like. Both in respect of his attitude to issues as well as in respect above all his absolute modesty and humility even when he could credit himself with many achievements.

In fact in his entire tenure as PM there is not one single aspect which I can regard as been a blot on him in his career,” he added.

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