DNA Edit: Honour to deserving – BJP has called Cong’s bluff in bestowing Bharat Ratna

As the saying goes, timing and accuracy are really what matters at the end of the day. Barely two days prior to the crucial meeting of the Congress Working Committee to elect a new party president, Pranab Mukherjee along with Nanaji Deshmukh (posthumously) and Dr Bhupen Hazarika (posthumously) was conferred the highest civilian award at a glittering ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan. The function took place two days after Lok Sabha had passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill which brought to the fore severe differences in the country’s grand old party. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his ministerial and party colleagues exchanged pleasantries with Pranab da. 

However, what’s noteworthy is that the people who skipped the event were no other than the most prominent members of his former party, Congress’ former president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. PM Modi tweeted that Bharat Ratna for Pranab Mukherjee is fitting recognition for his service to the nation. However, the Congress’ reaction to congratulate its former president turned out to be a mere formality. PM Modi had accused the Congress of not recognising its leaders’ contribution as it cannot see beyond the Gandhi family and it has been “flying so high” that it has got disconnected from the country’s roots. 

The Bharat Ratna has often been marked by controversies. In some cases, politicians who were close to the Gandhi family were conferred the country’s highest civilian award by successive Congress governments. Congress was flayed for using Bharat Ratna and other civilian awards to get political mileage. Interestingly, by honouring Mukherjee, Deshmukh and Hazarika, BJP has made the point that unlike the Congress, they are more inclusive. Mukherjee’s decision to address a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh meet at its headquarters Nagpur last year annoyed the Gandhis. His move shell-shocked the family and Congress party when they were stepping up their attack against RSS and BJP. Following this, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi had termed RSS of trying to change the nature of India. 

However, Mukherjee showered praise on RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar terming him “a great son of mother India”. Not stopping there, in a visitor’s book he wrote that came to pay his respect and homage to a great son of Mother India. As expected, the Congress hit out against Mukherjee said his visit to the RSS headquarters has anguished millions of Congress workers and all those who believed in pluralism, diversity and foundational values of the Indian Republic. The turn of events has yet again exposed the Congress party’s inability to give a structural response, especially when it is in absolute doldrums. On the contrary, BJP under PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah is aggressively pushing transformative changes.