Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and educationist Madan Mohan Malviya were today chosen for the country’s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna.
The announcement came ahead of Vajpayee’s 90th birthday tomorrow.
“The President has been pleased to award Bharat Ratna to Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya (posthumously) and to Atal Bihari Vajpayee,” a press communique from Rashtrapati Bhavan said.
One of India’s most charismatic leaders, Vajpayee is lauded as a statesman and has been often described as the moderate face of BJP.
Vajpayee, who has been ailing for sometime, has been credited for taking bold initiatives, notable being the attempt to bridge Indo-Pak differences.
India’s longest serving prime minister outside of Congress party, Vajpayee’s detractors called him “mask” of the RSS.
Several BJP leaders and MPs, including Murli Manohar Joshi, have demanded that the top honour be awarded to Vajpayee. NDA partner Shiv Sena too came out in support of conferring Bharat Ratna to the first BJP Prime Minister.