KL Report
SRINAGAR
Echoing the recent statement of National Conference (NC) Patron Dr. Farooq Abdullah that the former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee deserves ‘Bharat Ratna’, NC’s additional general secretary Dr. Mustafa Kamal Tuesday said that Vajpayee’s contribution to Indian Politics and Parliament has remained ‘excellent’.
Talking to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Dr. Kamal who is also younger brother of Farooq Abdullah said that Dr. Abdullah has stated the ‘right’ thing and that he knows Vajpayee very well. “Vajpayee has a very long history in Indian politics; he has spent more than four decades there.”
Kamal further mentioned that Vajpayee has been the Prime Minister with ‘distinction’ and that it was Mr. Vajpayee who initiated confidence building measures (CBM) with Pakistan. “He extended the hand of friendship with Pakistan and went to Lahore in a bus which is something that no Prime Minister has ever done.”
Commenting over the comments of various political parties that Dr. Farooq could have mentioned the name of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi instead of Mr. Vajpayee, Kamal said that he doesn’t know that on what basis Dr. Farooq could recommend the name of Sonia Gandhi. “His tenure in politics is ten years and Vajpayee has been in the politics since India achieved independence.”
However Dr. Kamal said that may be in times to come she could get Bharat Ratna and that let us not forget that Sonia Ghandi held the UPA together and for ten years we have the stable government in Delhi. “She is a great politician and her contribution in the field of politics has remained tremendous.”
Union Minister Farooq Abdullah on Monday had strongly backed the BJP’s demand for Bharat Ratna to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, saying he deserved the honour.
The National Conference chief said, “Even Nehru-ji had praised a leader like Vajpayee. He deserves Bharat Ratna.”
