New Delhi, Nov 18 (IANS) After the BJP first raised the issue, National Conference chief and union Minister Farooq AbdullahMonday supported the demand for giving the Bharat Ratna to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
"I am not from the BJP, but an Indian. And no one can forget that Vajpayeeji was a great leader. I request
the government to finally give the Bharat Ratna to him," Abdullah told reporters, urging the government to honour the former prime minister with the country's highest civilian award.
The NC is a part of United Progressive Alliance government at the centre.
Abdullah said the country's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru had once told Vajpayee that he would one day become prime minister.
Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad demanded that Vajpayee be awarded the Bharat Ratna after the government announced it for cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and scientist C.N.R. Rao.
Union Human Resource Development Minister M.M. Pallam Raju and his junior minister Shashi Tharoor too supported the demand.
"People who decide the names would look into it. Atal Bihari Vajpayee has been a great statesman and if the country decides, he should get Bharat Ratna," said Raju.
"People see Sachin as a 'Ratna' of Bharat. In the future, other names can be considered for the award," Tharoor said, adding that everyone has great respect for Vajpayee.
Bihar's ruling Janata Dal-United had Sunday supported the demand for Bharat Ratna for Vajpayee.
vinay mohanty
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