"Vajpayeeji has commanded the respect of one and all right from the initial period of his political life. He never called anyone 'Maut Ka Saudagar' (Merchants of death)," BJP national president Rajnath Singh said while referring to the statement made by Congress president Sonia Gandhi during her campaign prior to the Gujarat Assembly elections.

On names of CPM veteran Jyoti Basu and Bahujan Samaj Party's late leader Kanshiram cropping up for the coveted award, Singh said, "you take an opinion poll of the people of India and you will get the answers."

Senior BJP leader L K Advani, who was recently appointed the party's Prime Ministerial candidate, in a letter to the Prime Minister on January 5, proposed Vajpayee's name for the Bharat Ratna.

Asked if Advani had consulted the party before shooting of the letter, Singh said it was Advani's decision but the party supported it.