Lamenting that the political discourse in the country has hit a new low, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah said on Monday that the Congress, rather than the BJP-led NDA, should have conferred the Bharat Ratna on late former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
The former Prime Minister was given the country's highest civilian award in 2015 at his residence months after NDA came to power.
Abdullah was referring to speeches of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that his linguistic behaviour is unbecoming of the prime minister.
He said Modi is using foul language against India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru as well as other leaders such as Indira Gandhi.
"Has he forgotten what Nehru did for the country? Has he forgotten what Indira Gandhi did for this country -- she gave her life for the nation.
"If we are here, it is because of the legacy that has been passed on to us. His (Modi's) conduct is just not becoming of the prime minister. I have never referred to my mother in my political speeches. What is he doing?" Abdullah asked.
He then praised Atal Bihari Vajpayee and recalled a personal conversation with the former prime minister where he praised Nehru.
Abdullah said that Vajpayee, even as he came from the RSS background, understood the fact that the nation could not be run by one man.
"But one mistake that the Congress made was not presenting him with the Bharat Ratna. He was worthy of it," Abdullah said in the presence of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
He was participating in a panel discussion following the launch of "Fables of Fractured Times" by former minister in Singh's cabinet Manish Tewari.
Catch up on all the latest <a title="mid-day news" href="https://www.mid-day.com/news" target="_blank">Crime, National, International and Hatke news</a> here. Also, download the new mid-day <a title="mid-day android app " href="https://goo.gl/8Xlcvr" target="_blank">Android</a> and <a title="mid-day iOS app" href="https://goo.gl/KQziH4" target="_blank">iOS</a> apps to get latest updates
<div id=":74.co" class="JL">
<div id=":74.co" class="JL" style="text-align: justify;">This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Except for the change in the headline, the story has been provided "AS-IS," "AS AVAILABLE, without any verification or editing from our side. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.</div>
</div>

Abdullah said that Vajpayee, even as he came from the RSS background, understood the fact that the nation could not be run by one man

Congress should have given Vajpayee Bharat Ratna: Farooq Abdullah

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast

Home / News / India News / Article / Congress should have given Vajpayee Bharat Ratna: Farooq Abdullah

Congress should have given Vajpayee Bharat Ratna: Farooq Abdullah

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast