New Delhi, Nov 18

After the BJP first raised the issue, National Conference chief and union Minister Farooq Abdullah Monday supported the demand for giving the Bharat Ratna to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

"I am not from the BJP, but an Indian. And no one can forget that Vajpayeeji was a great leader. I request the government to finally give the Bharat Ratna to him," Abdullah told reporters, urging the government to honour the former prime minister with the country's highest civilian award.

The NC is a part of United Progressive Alliance government at the centre.

Abdullah said the country's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru had once told Vajpayee that he would one day become prime minister.

Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad demanded that Vajpayee be awarded the Bharat Ratna after the government announced it for cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and scientist C.N.R. Rao.

Union Human Resource Development Minister M.M. Pallam Raju and his junior minister Shashi Tharoor too supported the demand.

"People who decide the names would look into it. Atal Bihari Vajpayee has been a great statesman and if the country decides, he should get Bharat Ratna," said Raju.

"People see Sachin as a 'Ratna' of Bharat. In the future, other names can be considered for the award," Tharoor said, adding that everyone has great respect for Vajpayee.

Bihar's ruling Janata Dal-United had Sunday supported the demand for Bharat Ratna for Vajpayee.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Monday sought Bharat Ratna for veteran socialist leader and former chief minister Karpoori Thakur as well.

"Karpoori Thakur should be given Bharat Ratna," Nitish Kumar told the media in Patna and expressed displeasure over the government's failure to honour the veteran political leader.

Karpoori Thakur was chief minister of Bihar from December 1970 to June 1971, and from December 1977 to April 1979.

But JD-U MP Shivanand Tiwari questioned awarding the Bharat Ratna to Sachin Tendulkar instead of legendary hockey player Dhyan Chand.

"I fail to understand why Dhyan Chand was ignored and Sachin Tendulkar was given Bharat Ratna," Tiwari told reporters in Patna.

Nitish Kumar downplayed the statement. "That is Tiwari's personal view," the Bihar chief minister said.

By:IANS