The BJP on Sunday asked the UPA to explain why it did not consider former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for Bharat Ratna for his contribution to the nation.
“I am saying all this today because the perspective of Congress towards political leaders for awarding Bharat Ratna does not go beyond the dynasty," Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
He, however, said after the next general elections if BJP comes to power, it will felicitate Vajpayee with the highest civilian honour, which he deserves. Reacting to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's statement calling BJP a “party of thieves,” he said, such kind of unparliamentary words were not even used by his great-grandfather, grandmother or father.
“Rahul Gandhi is the great grandson of Nehru, grandson of Indira and son of Rajiv Gandhi... They have not used such unparliamentary word for any Opposition parties... What Rahul has learned from his ancestors,” he asked.
Citing a newspaper report in which the Centre’s labour department ranked Chhattisgarh lowest in rate of unemployment, he said Rahul should do his homework when he claims that people are unemployed in Chhattisgarh.