All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen President Asaduddin Owaisi raised his objection against the Bharat Ratna conferred on former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the Padma Vibhushan given to BJP patriarch LK Advani. While speaking at a seminar titled ‘Ayodhya controversy - Ramjanmabhoomi - fiction or reality’ in Hyderabad, Owaisi spoke about the two BJP leaders’ alleged role in the demolition of the Babri Masjid at Ayodhya on December 6th, 1992. He has made references to the speeches made by Vajpayee a day before the demolition and to the cases filed against Advani regarding the mosque’s demolition.

"Have we forgotten December 5 (1992)? The same Atal Bihari Vajpayee who had said 'we are going to level the ground' (has been now given the Bharat Ratna)," he said. "The same L K Advani who spread destruction in the country with his 'Rathyatra'. This could probably be the first instance of Padma Vibhushan being given to a person who is facing criminal cases," the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen leader said.

“That’s why those people will question the awarding people who have contributed and given sacrifices for the country, because it does not suit them, and the people who suit them are the ones who are against the country,” he said. 

Vajpayee, founding member of BJP who is held in high esteem across the political spectrum, was conferred with Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award, by President Pranab Mukherjee. Vajpayee has been credited with taking bold initiatives, notable among them being the historic bus journey to Lahore in 1999 when he signed the landmark Lahore Declaration with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with both sides pledging to push for peace and security.

Owaisi known for his hate speeches to ignite communal tension aiming at Muslim concentration for him and his family’s political gains now talking about peace and secularism is just like prostitute talking about morality. 

By Premji