File pic: Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malaviya will be honoured with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, the President's office announced today.
"Atal ji means so much to everyone.A guide, inspiration & giant among giants. His contribution to India is invaluable," tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who recommended the names to President Pranab Mukherjee this morning.
Mr Vajpayee, a three-time prime minister considered the gold standard of leadership in the BJP, will be the first leader from the country's political right to be given a Bharat Ratna.
The 89-year-old leader, who was prime minister till 2004, is popular across party lines. He has stayed away from public life for the past few years because of his health.
The announcement comes a day before the birthday of the veteran BJP leader, who turns 90 on Thursday, Christmas Day. The government is celebrating the day as 'good governance day'.
Senior BJP leader LK Advani, a long-time political associate of Mr Vajpayee, said he has a "blemish free record and deserves the Bharat Ratna."
The BJP, which took power in May, has long demanded the Bharat Ratna for Mr Vajpayee. The party had strongly criticised the previous Congress-led government when cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar and eminent scientist CNR Rao were named last year for the award but Mr Vajpayee wasn't.
At Mr Vajpayee's hometown in Gwalior, his family was overjoyed. "It is a happy day for his family, the country, the whole world," said his niece Kanti Mishra.
A Bharat Ratna for Dr Madan Mohan Malaviya, the freedom icon and educationist popularly known as 'Mahamana', was one of the promises made by PM Modi during his the campaign for the national election.
The Banaras Hindu University, founded by Dr Malaviya, is in the Prime Minister's constituency Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
43 people have been honoured till now with the Bharat Ratna, which recognizes "exceptional service or performance of the highest order."