President to confer ‘Bharat Ratna’ upon Vajpayee At Home

President Pranab Mukherjee will visit former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his New Delhi residence to confer India’s highest civilian honour ‘Bharat Ratna’ on him. Vajpayee has been ailing for some time and he won’t be able to travel to Rashtrapati Bhavan to receive the award. Thus, the President decided to visit his residence.

Vice President Dr. Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will accompany President Pranab Mukherjee on March 27 to Vajpayee’s residence. The entire Modi Cabinet may attend the ceremony. Late Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya’s family will receive the ‘Bharat Ratna’ at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on March 30.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who is hailed across the globe as a great statesman, was the most moderate face within the BJP when he was into active politics. He is the only non-Congress Prime Minister till date to complete a full five-year term. During his tenure, India conducted Pokhran-II nuclear test and fought the Kargil War.