CHANGSARI, Feb 9 - Launching a scathing attack on the previous governments for not recognising the contributions of Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi and Dr Bhupen Hazarika, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said in the earlier regimes Bharat Ratna used to be reserved for some the moment they were born.
�We would have been so happy had Bhupenda received the honour when he was alive. But that did not happen. It took decades to give recognition to his contributions. Who owes responsibility for it? It�s for you (the people) to decide. We also had to wait for Atal Bihari Vajpayee to express our true gratitude to Gopinath Bardoloi,� Modi said addressing a huge gathering at the proposed AIIMS site here.
�The BJP is proud to do the sacred work of recognising these two great sons of Assam,� he said. He said while it takes decades to recognise people who have sacrificed their life for the nation, for some, the Bharat Ratna used to be booked at the time of their birth.
Modi said those who forgot the true heroes of the nation also �forgot about development� as he took a dig at the opposition parties, terming them as �mahamilawat�, working to �instigate the masses�.
�Now, people who looted the poor and played with national security and fled the country are being brought back and punished. The corrupt is agitated at the alertness of the chowkidar (gatekeeper). Now every day, I am being abused. There is now competition as who can abuse Modi how much,� he said.
Earlier, beginning his speech in Assamese and reciting lines from Dr Bhupen Hazarika�s song, Modi paid his tribute to Srimanta Sankaradeva, Madhavdeva, Ajan Fakir, Swargadeo Chaolung Siu-Ka-Pha, Lachit Borphukan and other legendary personalities of the State. He also offered his best wishes for success of the Srimanta Sankardev Sangha Session being held at Morigaon.
