Just a day after the Union Government announced Bharat Ratna to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and founder of Banaras Hindu University Madan Mohan Malaviya, albeit posthumously, a pro-BJP seer in Karnataka has criticised the Government awarding the highest civilian award posthumously.
Creating controversy over the highest civilian award Bharat Ratna, one of the pro active gurus’ of BJP leaders, which include senior BJP leader and Union Minister Uma Bharti, Vishveshwara Tirtha Swamiji of Pejavar Matt in coastal town of Udupi in Karnataka has suggested the Centre not to consider dead people for country’s highest civilian award. Addressing a Press conference in Udupi on Friday, the Swamiji said, “There are several living legends in the country who deserve such award and it will be befitting if they were considered.” “There is no meaning in considering the people who are no more for such highest award,” he added
He said that if we understand the special value attached to such award, then there would not be such development of considering dead persons. The Government should stop such move.\\The statement made by Udupi seer on Bharat Ratna who is a sympathiser of BJP has created a controversy. The State congress condemned such a statement by seer. However, Swamiji said that Bharat Ratna for former Prime Minister AB Vajpayee was welcome and he deserved it for his yeoman service to the country.
‘Nothing wrong in returning to parent religion’The seer, however, welcomed the ghar wapsi programme of the Sangh Parivar and said there is nothing wrong with it. He said, “Those who are raising objection about ghar wapsi should also protest against conversion.” “I am ready for an open discussion on this issue. let there be a method to investigate on conversion also,” he added.