The Narendra Modi government conferred India's highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna, on former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and late Madan Mohan Malviya, a leader of the freedom struggle and one of the iconic Hindu nationalist figures who founded Banaras Hindu University.
“The President has been pleased to award Bharat Ratna to Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya (posthumously) and to Atal Bihari Vajpayee,” a Rashtrapati Bhavan press communique said. The announcement of Modi government's decision came ahead of Vajpayee's 90th birthday, and Malviya's 153rd birth anniversary, on Thursday last.
The fact that the government conferred Bharat Ratna on Malviya 69 years after his death suggests that it may be ready to implement the known view of a strong section of the BJP leadership that people like Kanshi Ram; founder of Gita Press, Hanuman Prasad Poddar, who is credited with popularization of Hindu epics, and others who have been ignored should also be honoured with the top civilian honour.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the conferment of Bharat Ratna on Malviya and Vajpayee was a “fitting recognition” of the services of the “illustrious stalwarts” to the nation. BJP had long campaigned for a Bharat Ratna for Vajpayee, the first member of Sangh Parivar to have served as prime minister.
Vajpayee became PM thrice, and was the first one from outside Congress to have served a full term. A powerful orator, he led BJP-led coalitions to decisive wins in Lok Sabha elections in 1998 and 1999 in the first phase of saffron supremacy.
The highest decoration for Malviya had looked a distinct possibility since Modi took over as prime minister.
The respect for him runs deep in Sangh Parivar and was evident when Modi began his sole trip to Varanasi during the Lok Sabha elections by garlanding Malviya's statue.
One of Malviya's grandsons was Modi's proposer for Varanasi seat.
With the government's decision, the number of those bestowed with Bharat Ratna award goes up to 45. Last year, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and scientist CNR Rao were chosen for the honour.
Overseas Friends of BJP in UK hails the honour
Overseas Friends of BJP UK has welcomed the decision to honour Vajpayee and Malviya with Bharat Ratna. Lalubhai Parekh, the president of O F B J P UK, said he welcomed the decision of Government of India and congratulate Modiji and the President of India for such bold decision to appreciate life and time of our great leaders, past and present.
