Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Award for Vajpayee

In his letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition, L.K. Advani, has highlighted a few salient points to substantiate his suggestion that the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, be awarded Bharat Ratna. I will regard Mr. Vajpayee as a Bharat Ratna, irrespective of whether or not the government confers the award on him.

No other leader has dominated the political landscape so conspicuously since Jawaharlal Nehru. Despite being the leader of a right-wing party, he has consistently projected a secular image and attracted Muslim support not only in Lucknow, his parliamentary constituency for several decades, but throughout the country.

M. Riaz Hasan,

Hyderabad

Mr. Vajpayee is essentially a patriot. Even while in the opposition, he was positive in his attitude and approach. He has never crossed the limits of parliamentary decency. A mild-mannered man, he was a very impressive orator. As Prime Minister, he withstood pressure from America and the West when they imposed sanctions following our nuclear tests. His being part of the party professing faith in Hindutva did not stand in his way of discharging his functions impartially. Mr. Vajpayee certainly qualifies for Bharat Ratna.

V. Rajagopalan,

Kumbakonam

Mr. Vajpayee hardly made any impact in the south even when he was Prime Minister. He was lenient towards the opposition while in office, and ineffective while in the opposition. The BJP lost power at the Centre because of the lack of dynamism and assertiveness in him.

K. Balasundram,

Dharmapuri

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