BJP wants Bharat Ratna for Vajpayee

It was a suggestion first made by L K Advani nearly three years ago.

It was a suggestion first made by L K Advani nearly three years ago. On Saturday,as Atal Bihari Vajpayee turned 86,the BJP revived its demand for conferring Bharat Ratna the highest civilian honour on the ailing former Prime Minister.

Advani had made the demand in 2008,days after he was anointed as the BJPs prime ministerial candidate. He had made the suggestion in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,but the UPA I virtually dismissed it,pointing out that such issues cant be discussed in public.

The country can never forget Vajpayees contribution to parliamentary democracy. Therefore,I humbly request the government to honour him with the Bharat Ratna, former BJP president Rajnath Singh,who is considered close to Vajpayee,said. Several leaders like Shahnawaz Hussain and Rajiv Pratap Rudy echoed him. The revival of the demand,interestingly,comes at a time when the BJP and the Congress are locked in a bitter tug of war over the 2G spectrum scam.

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While BJP leaders admitted that they see no chance of their proposal being considered,it is an idea that the party cannot ignore given the pride of place Vajpayee still holds among the BJP leadership and rank and file.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Vajpayees 6,Krishna Menon Marg residence in the evening to wish him on his 86th birthday.

Bouquets came from the President and the Vice Presidents offices as well.

Among the visitors were top BJP leaders Advani,Sushma Swaraj,Rajnath Singh,party chief Nitin Gadkari and Jaswant Singh and INLDs Om Prakash Chautala,NDA convenor Sharad Yadav and Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

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