Congress welcomes Bharat Ratna to Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Madan Mohan Malviya

NEW DELHI: Congress today welcomed the conferment of Bharat Ratna on former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and late educationist Madan Mohan Malviya, saying it hoped that the NDA government will follow the path of 'Raj Dharma' and secularism shown by them.

"We welcome the announcement of giving Bharat Ratna to Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Madan Mohan Malviya. To a certain extent, both represent the Indian thought which is secular and tolerant. We hope that this present government will walk in the path shown by these leaders," Congress General Secretary and in charge of Media Communication Ajay Maken told reporters here.

Noting that Vajpayee had talked about 'Raj Dharma', Maken said he hopes that the Narendra Modi government will keep that in mind and follow it.

Asked about Congress President Sonia Gandhi's ties with Vajpayee when he was the Prime Minister, Maken said both had a "constructive relationship".

He said it was possible because the Vajpayee government also appreciated the opposition for its constructive stand.

"I hope this (NDA) government will too take foward all these," he said.

Welcoming the Bharat Ratna to Vajpayee, former Commerce Minister and Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma said that the former Prime Minister was a "reconciler" and believed in India's pluralism, economic development and infrastructure building.

"He is one person who actually represents the refreshing change when compared to the divisive agenda of religious extremism.

"Vajpayee is one of those Indian leaders, who are definitely admired across the political spectrum," Sharma said.