NEW DELHI: Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee may have been honoured with a Bharat Ratna by the UPA government if PM Manmohan Singh had his way. Former media adviser to PM Singh, Sanjaya Baru told TOI that he had suggested that both Vajpayee and former PM Narasimha Rao be given the Bharat Ratna together and Singh had agreed. However the proposal never saw light of day, Baru said, indicating there could have been reluctance on the part of the Congress party to bestow the nation's highest civilian honour on the two former PMs.

Recollecting the days when Singh was in office, Baru said, "Every year for four years from 2004 onwards when the subject of the Bharat Ratna was discussed, I would suggest that both former PMs be given the Bharat Ratna. The PM would agree but it would end at that. I don't know if he broached the subject with Congress president Sonia Gandhi or if it was shot down."

Author of the controversial "The Accidental Prime Minister" on his years as media advisor to PM (2004-2008) Baru hinted that there was reluctance within the Congress on both names. He added," The BJP also lost a fine opportunity. If they had given Rao the honour it would have looked like a gesture of bipartisanship."

Currently director of geo-economics and strategy at the International Institute of Strategic Studies, Baru's book was dismissed by the PMO as a work of fiction.

The NDA government recently announced the Bharat Ratna for Vajpayee and educationists and freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malaviya. Many in the establishment and outside have long felt that Rao's contribution in heralding a new era of economic reforms has long gone unrecognized and that he was richly deserving of the honour.

The award has been given to 43 Indians so far. The UPA gave the award to Hindustani classical exponent Bhimsen Joshi, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and scientist C N R Rao in its 10-year tenure.

Source: TOI