BJYM wants Bharat Ratna for Vajpayee

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 21

The Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha(BJYM), Chandigarh, organised a programme "Atulya Atal" to mark the birthday of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Law Bhawan and requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to honour him with Bharat Ratna.

Prem Kumar Dhumal, former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, and Lalji Dass Tandon, a former minister of Uttar Pradesh, were present on the occasion.

Prem Kumar Dhumal in his address said Vajpayee was admired by his supporters for his oratory. It was because of his charisma that he could lead a coalition of more than 24 political parties in 1998.

Lal ji Dass Tandon said that Vajpayee transcended the BJP and its ideology and through him, the party and the Sangh Parivaar became acceptable.

Amit Rana, president, BJYM, said that Vajpayee was the only non-Congress leader who was popular among the masses and was respected by all sections of the society.

Blunders in press note

Call it lack of knowledge or factual error, the BJP Yuva Morcha in a press statement issued on Sunday mentioned Lal ji as a former Chief Minister of Lucknow and subsequently spelled him as Balram Ji Dass Tandon, the Chattisgarh Governor, who was not present at the function.

Making “apt” use of the Queen’s language, the organisers preferred to “commemorate” and not celebrate the birthday of former prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.