NC, JD(U) back BJP's demand to give Vajpayee the Bharat Ratna

They may have severed ties with the BJP but that hasn’t stopped former political allies from backing the party in its demand for giving the Bharat Ratna to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Recently parted ally of the BJP, the Janata Dal (United), has come out in support of the BJP’s demand for the Bharat Ratna to be given to the former Prime Minister.

“Lohia-ji should have got the Bharat Ratna long back, I think even Atal-ji must get it,” Bihar Chief Minister and party chief Nitish Kumar told reporters in Patna today.

Other leaders in the party have also backed the demand with one of them even challenging the decision to give the highest civilian award to cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.

“Sachin Tendulkar is a good cricket player but the sport has resulted in him earned around one hundred crore rupees. He has not played for free,” JD(U) MP Shivanand Tiwari said.

The Janata Dal United (JDU), until it parted ways with the BJP this year was a part of the NDA government at the Centre till 2004.

Tiwari questioned the logic behind giving Tendulkar the Bharat Ratna given that hockey great Dhyan Chand had not received the award yet.

Another former ally, the National Conference, has also backed the BJP’s demand for the award to be given to Vajpayee.

“Even Nehru-ji praised a leader like Vajpayee…He deserves a Bharat Ratna,” Abdullah told reporters today.