Nishan-e-Pakistan Sparks Political Row Amid Rising India-Pakistan Tensions
As tensions between India and Pakistan escalate, the political atmosphere within India has also heated up. The BJP and Congress have clashed on multiple fronts, and unexpectedly, Pakistan’s highest civilian award, the Nishan-e-Pakistan, has entered the political spotlight.
Why is Nishan-e-Pakistan in the News?
On May 20, BJP leader Amit Malviya launched a sharp attack on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of downplaying India’s recent military success in Operation Sindoor and echoing sentiments similar to those of Pakistan. Malviya provocatively questioned whether Gandhi was aiming for Pakistan’s top civilian honor — the Nishan-e-Pakistan.
Malviya wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
“It is not surprising that Rahul Gandhi is speaking the language of Pakistan and its allies. He didn’t congratulate the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) for Operation Sindoor, a clear demonstration of India’s dominance. Instead, he kept asking how many jets we lost — a question already addressed in the DGMO briefing. He never asked how many Pakistani jets were shot down or how many were destroyed on the ground. What’s next for Rahul Gandhi? Nishan-e-Pakistan?”
Congress Responds
Congress leader Pawan Khera hit back, pointing out that it was “their leader” — India’s first non-Congress Prime Minister Morarji Desai — who remains the only Indian politician to receive the Nishan-e-Pakistan. Khera sarcastically added that other BJP leaders like L.K. Advani, who once called Muhammad Ali Jinnah “secular,” and Modi, who made a surprise visit to Nawaz Sharif in Pakistan to share biryani, might also be deserving of the award.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh reminded the BJP that Atal Bihari Vajpayee served as Foreign Minister under Desai when these diplomatic efforts were underway.
What is the Nishan-e-Pakistan?
The Nishan-e-Pakistan is Pakistan’s highest civilian award, akin to India’s Bharat Ratna. It was established in 1957 under the Decoration Act to honor extraordinary contributions to the country or to humanity at large. The award symbolizes not only individual achievements but also broader political, cultural, or humanitarian ties in the subcontinent.
It is the civilian counterpart to the military’s Nishan-e-Haider, and is often awarded to foreign dignitaries who have significantly contributed to Pakistan’s national interests. Other civilian honors under the Act include Nishan-e-Imtiaz and Tamgha-e-Pakistan. The awards are announced on August 14 (Pakistan’s Independence Day) and conferred on March 23, Pakistan Day.
Why Was Morarji Desai Awarded Nishan-e-Pakistan?
Desai became Prime Minister in 1977 after the Emergency, leading a coalition under the Janata Party, which included the BJP in its earlier avatar as Bharatiya Jana Sangh. Though the government was short-lived due to internal contradictions, Desai pursued diplomatic normalization with Pakistan and China.
In 1988, nearly a decade after his resignation, Pakistan awarded him the Nishan-e-Pakistan, citing his anti-war stance and efforts to improve Indo-Pak ties during his 1977–1979 tenure. Islamabad especially appreciated his approach in the aftermath of the 1971 war.
Though Congress initially urged Desai to decline the honor, he accepted it in 1990. A year later, in 1991, he was also awarded the Bharat Ratna, making him the only individual to receive both India and Pakistan’s highest civilian honors.
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