Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Race for Bharat Ratna

Ever since the BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recommending Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s name for Bharat Ratna, a growing list of names has started doing the rounds. The selection of the recipient of the prestigious award should be the sole prerogative of the President.

T.K. Raman,

Kochi

Campaigning for any award devalues its prestige. By going public with the names for Bharat Ratna, the proposers have caused embarrassment to the nominees as well as the jury. In successive acts of me-too-ism, politicians have named the senior leaders of their parties or communities. To put an end to this unseemly development, it would be wise for the government to discontinue the award.

D. Balasubramanian,

Hyderabad

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