(Image source from: Amartya Sen might return Bharat Ratna if Vajpayee asks})

An ugly political dogfight flared up on Thursday after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and proprietor-editor-in-chief of The Pioneer newspaper Chandan Mitra tweeted on a social networking site, demanding the Nobel Laureate and economist Amartya Sen be stripped off Bharat Ratna after NDA comes to power.

Apparently, Amartya Sen's recent anti-Modi statement seemed to have riled Mr. Mitra who took to Twitter to lash out at the economist.

The unfazed Amartya Sen, in return, offered to give back the Bharat Ratna if former PM Atal Behari Vajpayee asked him to. However, he stood stern on his views on Narendra Modi. The economist clarified that his reservations were over Gujarat Chief Minister and not BJP.

"Do I regret my views on Modi. No. By getting Bharat Ratna, I do not lose my right to speak my views as an individual. It is my right to speak up. I thought it was my duty to stand and speak up for the majority. I got Bharat Ratna but...," the economist said.

"Bharat Ratna is a jewel of the whole country. No BR should speak for or against any party or leader. Sen should join Congress political team," an angry Mitra had tweeted a couple of days ago.

AW: Suchorita Dutta