Madurai:
Union Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today said the NDA government was honouring all those who struggled for the country unlike in the past when such recognition was given only to 'members of one family'.
Without naming anyone, he said "There was a time when stamps were released for the members of one family." It was the BJP-led regime that released stamps for mathematics genius Srinivasa Ramanujam, poets Tiruvalluvar and Subramania Bharathiar and noted vocalist MS Subbulakshmi.
"We honour all those people who struggled for the people and the country. We don't play politics in release of stamps or honouring martyrs," Mr Prasad said while releasing a commemorative stamp in honour of 18th century freedom fighter Veeran Azhagumuthu Kone, among the first to fight against the British in southern Tamil Nadu.
Mr Prasad said NDA government had sought names of martyrs and those who rebelled against the then British government in the country so that they could be honoured with a postal stamp.
"There are many who lost their lives for the freedom of the country, who were revolutionaries and fought for freedom of India. The BJP wants to honour them. We have sought lists from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and other states for honouring them," he said.
He said it was unfortunate that the previous governments did not release stamps for leaders like Veeran Azhagumuthu Kone who raised their voice against the British.
The Centre had in September this year decided to discontinue postage stamps of former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi with the government saying only one family cannot get this honour, a move which drew protests from Congress.
Mr Prasad also said the BJP-led government at the Centre wanted to maintain cordial relationship with all states and was helping them in times of need.