The BJP reacts to renowned scientist Dr PM Bhargava returning the Padma Bhushan to protest the attack on rationalism. The BJP says Bhargava is a habitual protester and asks why he did not register his dissent when the Emergency was imposed. The party said Dr Bhargava was awarded for political not scientific temperament.


In a strongly-worded response to PM Bhargava's announcement that he was returning the award, BJP said he expressed "no moral indignation or even a murmur of dissent" when Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency and was "rewarded" with a top assignment soon after it was lifted.


"The reality seems to be that he was rewarded then for his political temperament rather than his scientific temperament. For Dr Bhargava now to protest that India's democracy is under threat under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not only trivial but reeks of hypocrisy of the highest order.


"He is a habitual protester and has strong prejudices against BJP and the central government. He was a signatory to the letter of solidarity with Greenpeace signed by 182 persons on April 24 this year. The list is a who's who of Hate BJP and Hate Modi brigade and comprises most cheer leaders of Sonia Gandhi," BJP spokepserson G V L Narasimha Rao said.


They have only one agenda and that is to "abuse" BJP and the Prime Minister all the time, he said. BJP termed it "unfortunate" that the media was carrying Bhargava's "irresponsible, motivated and malicious" remarks. "He is a beneficiary of Congress-era Emergency excesses and has been a habitual protester against the BJP government's policies," Rao said.


Read Syed Firdaus Ashraf's interview with Dr Bhargava.