BJP veteran lK Advani, party Chief Ministers and the NDA allies on Wednesday hailed the announcement of Bharat Ratna for former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and freedom fighter and educationist Madan Mohan Malaviya.
Advani turned emotional as he hailed the announcement for conferment of the highest civilian honour to Vajpayee with whom he has shared over five decades of close relationship.
Describing Vajpayee as an “outstanding patriot”, Advani said the 90-year-old leader was the only former Prime Minister with a longish tenure whose term was “without any blemish”.
He regretted that the former UPA Government had not honoured Vajpayee with the highest civilian award. He recalled that he had written to the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in this regard in 2008.
“I wholeheartedly welcome the decision of the Government to honour two outstanding patriots with Bharat Ratna,” he said. He also lauded the conferment of the highest civilian award on educationist Madan Mohan Malaviya posthumously.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh expressed happiness over the decision saying the nation’s highest civilian honour to Vajpayee by the President on the recommendation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has come at a right time. Singh said Vajpayee has always been a source of inspiration to everyone. He was the Ajatshatru (one who doesn’t have enemies) of Indian politics. “Atalji is indeed an ‘Anmol Ratna’ for us,” he said.
About Malaviya, Singh said he was a great educationist and freedom fighter. “Bharat Ratna to him is the recognition of his tremendous contribution,” he added.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said Malviya was a great educationist and Vajpayee’s contribution to the nation as Prime Minister could not be forgotten. “When I began my political career, I was the Minister of State in the Vajpayee Government... I can’t forget Vajpayee’s blessings and able guidance to me,” Raje told reporters in Jaipur.
“We are all thankful to the Government of India for choosing both Malaviya and Vajpayee for the nation’s highest civilian honour,” Raje added.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu also welcomed the Centre’s decision. “Happy that country’s highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna, will be conferred on greats Sri Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pt Madan Mohan Malaviya,” Chandrababu said in a tweet.
An official statement said the Chief Minister termed Vajpayee as a great political leader and parliamentarian. “The Bharat Ratna honour to these greats is a (matter of) pride for the country,” he added. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also welcomed the move.
“It is indeed heartening and a matter of pride for every Indian to confer Bharat Ratna on two of its most precious gems — Mahamana & Atal ji,” Chouhan tweeted soon after the announcement of the prestigious award.
“The 7.5 crore people of MP are grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for conferring Bharat Ratna to India’s gems — Atal ji & Malaviya ji,” Chouhan said in another tweet. Conferring the country’s highest civilian award on Malviya shows that India respects great nationalist educationists, he said.
“Conferring Bharat Ratna on Mahamana Madan Mohan Malaviya ji is manifestation of India’s respect for its great nationalist educationists,” Chouhan tweeted. In another tweet, the MP CM said, “Atal ji, the tallest statesman of our times. An inspiration of service to the nation. Bharat Ratna is least India could confer on her son.”