New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Yogendra Yadav on Saturday said that demanding Bharat Ratna for Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) founder Kanshi Ram purely on the basis of his caste will be an insult to the great leader.
"Kanshi Ram was a great patriot, his struggle for social justice and dalit empowerment would be and should be remembered in the history of India. But, to demand Bharat Ratna for him on the ground of his caste is to my mind an insult to a great patriot, great politician like Kanshi Ramji," he told ANI here while reacting to BSP supremo Mayawati's remark that Dalit icons should not be ignored while bestowing the Bharat Ratna.
He further said that Bharat Ratna should be awarded and not dictated by the agenda of government of the time.
"I do believe that Bharat Ratna should be awarded not dictated by the agenda of government of the time," he said.
Mayawati took exception at the Centre's decision on conferring the highest civilian award to only former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee along with late freedom fighter and educationist Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, while ignoring dalit icons like Kanshi Ram.
