BBC news: Media in India are discussing Nobel laureate Amartya Sen’s offer to return the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, after he was criticised for his remarks about controversial politician Narendra Modi.
A noted economist, Mr Sen has said he does not want to see Mr Modi, the chief minister of the western state of Gujarat, as prime minister, according to newspaper reports.
Mr Modi is a senior leader of the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the party’s campaign chief for the general election, due next year.
Reacting to demands by BJP MP Chandan Mitra to return the Bharat Ratna, the Nobel laureate has offered to return the award, reports the Hindustan Times.
“Mr Chandan Mitra may not know that the Bharat Ratna was given to me by the BJP-led government and was handed to me by [former PM] Atal Behari Vajpayee. If Mr Vajpayee wants me to return it, I will certainly return it,” the paper quotes Mr Sen as saying.
Mr Modi often divides political opinion in India. Many feel he did little to stop the anti-Muslim riots in his state in 2002, which left over 1,000 people dead. Mr Modi has always denied any wrongdoing.
The BJP has sought to distance itself from Mr Mitra’s comment, saying the remarks were made by him in his personal capacity. But the ruling Congress party says Mr Mitra’s comments show the BJP’s “fascist mentality”, reports The Indian Express.