Thackeray slams proposals for Bharat Ratna

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Monday said he would reject the Bharat Ratna even if the award was ever offered to him.

In an interview to Samana newspaper, Thackeray said politicians have taken the sheen out of the country's highest civilian award by recommending names of people who do not deserve it.

'I don't know what is happening to this Bharat Ratna. This award has been cheapened so much that it has lost its sheen. I will never accept it. Of course, this is bound to generate questions as to who is going to give me. But nevertheless I am clear that I will never accept it,' he was quoted as saying.

'I don't have even an iota of attraction for it. I fail to understand why some people are craving for it.'

Asked to comment on the clamour for the award among the politicians, Thackeray said it is very cheap. 'I don't know why you are asking this question. I know I am not going to get it nor do I crave for it,' he said, adding there is none now in the country who was worth the award.

The battle for Bharat Ratna intensified after starting with BJP leader Lal Kishenchand Advani suggesting former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's name for the honour, which was followed by names of Marxist veteran Jyoti Basu, BSP founder Kanshi Ram being suggested for the award.

Then Ramvilas Paswan also joined the bandwagon and proposed that late Baju Jagjivan Ram, one of India's first Dalit ministers, be given the award. Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik suggested his father late Biju Patnaik be honoured.

Not to be left behind, Samajwadi Party said the award be conferred on its leader Mulaylam Singh Yadav.