As Amartya Sen criticises Narendra Modi,BJP MP wants his Ratna snatched

However,the BJP on Wednesday distanced itself from his remarks.

“Amartya Sen says he doesn’t want Modi to be India’s PM. Is Sen even a voter in India? Next NDA government must strip him of Bharat Ratna,” Mitra had tweeted yesterday.

“Please Dr Sen,don’t peddle your unsolicited comments on India. We now know you as a has-been economist who sells Congress line for a living,” he added.

Sen was given the Bharat Ratna in 1999 by the then NDA government.

Related: Change politics in India,says Amartya Sen

“The Vajpayee government had impartially awarded him for the name he earned for himself through his works at the global level. He (Sen) should not make statements akin to some party’s ‘ratna’. His title as Bharat Ratna does not grant him rights to give certificates on other issue. BJP disagrees with his remarks and he (should) not become a tool in the hands of Congress,” said BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain today. He refrained from commenting further on the issue.

“It has nothing to do with the party. This is my personal remark,” Mitra told The Indian Express. “His economic ideas may have been relevant in the ‘60s and ‘70s,during the heydeys of socialism in the country. Sen’s theories are no longer relevant,” he added.

“He has been a supporter of Congress’ policies,be it MGNREGA or national food security legilsation. He has been supporting policies adopted by Sonia Gandhi and implemented by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. His support for Nitish (Kumar) is comparatively new,” said Mitra.

“Those who are upset with my suggestion about Sen and Bharat Ratna,can you show me examples of others who do party politics after getting BR,” Mitra tweeted. “I repeat. Bharat Ratna is a jewel of whole country. No BR should speak for or against any party or leader. Sen shouldn’t join Cong poll team.”

Meanwhile,Congress spokesperson Meem Afzal said: “I don’t see any chance of  the NDA coming back to power. So,there is no question of taking back the Bharat Ratna from Sen.”

At the AICC briefing,party spokesperson Raj Babbar refused to get dragged into the debate,but echoed Sen’s view that Modi is not acceptable to 20 crore people of the country.  

Party spokesman Raj Babbar said: “The nation is bigger than politics… We do not know what individuals are doing… The issue has not been discussed in any forum of the party.”