Muslims hail Bharat Ratna to Vajpayee, rejoice at Kanpur college

Muslims in Lucknow hailed Bharat Ratna award to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who had represented the state capital in Lok Sabha from 1991 to 2009.

“It is a very good decision.....those, who have contributed to the progress of the country, should be honoured,” said senior Muslim cleric and All India Muslim Personal Law Board member Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangimahali here on Wednesday.

Nawab Mirzafar Abdullah, a member of of the former royal family of Awadh, also welcomed the highest civilian award to Vajpayee. “Vajpayee is a fine politician and a statesman...he deserved the award...he should have been given this honor long back,” Abdullah said.

Abdullah said Vajpayee never indilged in the politics of religion and caste and always kept national interests above all other things.

 The oldest litigant in the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid title suits Mohemmad Hashim Ansari also hailed the award to Vajpayee and educationist Madan Mohan Malviya. “The awards have come late....still it should be welcomed,” Ansari said in Ayodhya.

DD to show films on Vajpayee, Malaviya

Special documentaries on former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the late freedom fighter-educationist Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, who have been named for the Bharat Ratna on eve of birthdays, will be screened by Doordarshan National Thursday, agencies report from New Delhi.