"Why remember them after 10 years?" asks TMC's Dola Sen about Bharat Ratna awardees

New Delhi [India], February 9 (ANI): In reaction to the Prime Minister awarding Bharat Ratna to former Prime Ministers Chaudhary Charan Singh, PV Narasimha Rao, as well as father of green revolution, MS Swaminathan, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Dola Sen questioned why these personalities are being honoured after 10 years.
"It is a good thing that they are giving senior personalities Bharat Ratna posthumously. But why did they remember them after 10 years? This question will arise," Sen said while speaking to ANI on Friday.
The TMC MP also remembered the role of LK Advani, who was also awarded the Bharat Ratna this year, in descrating the erstwhile Babri Masjid.
"We remember what happened in 1992 when the Babri Masjid was destroyed. Murli Manohar Joshi and Advani were there. Ek Dhakka Aur Do. We remember that," Sen said.
Sen said that awarding Bharat Ratna to LK Advani was an afterthought to balance the act of not inviting the veteran political leader, who was at the forefront of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple movement, to the Pran Pratishtha ceremony.
"But this time Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not call the President nor anyone but he himself became the priest and performed the Pran Pratishtha ceremony. He did not all Advani nor Joshi. This is why there is criticism and hence this (conferring Bharat Ratna to LK Advani) is an afterthought to balance it," Sen remarked.
Further, Sen claimed that when people realised that the act of awarding Advani the Bharat Ratna was a balancing act by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and criticised them for it, the Narendra Modi government decided to stretch the list to include three more recepients.
"Following this criticism started again. Everyone was saying that it was a balancing act. So they increased the list. So it is okay. Better late than never, even if it is an afterthought. Seniors are getting honoured. So it is okay," Sen said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced that former PMs Chaudhary Charan Singh and PV Narasimha Rao will be conferred the Bharat Ratna. Along with them, MS Swaminathan also known as the father of the green revolution will also be awarded the country's highest civilian award. (ANI)