New Delhi: Rashtrapati Bhavan has announced the union government's decision to confer Bharat Ratna to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya. Interestingly, both Malaviya and Vajpayee share a common date of birth.
Early in the morning the official tweeter handle of President of India announced the much speculated decision.
India TV was the first to break the news earlier this month that the Narendra Modi-led NDA government was contemplating to confer India's highest civilian award on Vajpayee on his 90th birthday.
Vajpayee will turn 90 tomorrow.
READ MORE: Atal Bihari Vajpayee: Apostle of peace, humanity personified
For a long time Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was demanding Bharat Ratan for Vajpayee, who headed the first BJP-led NDA government between 1999 and 2004.
READ MORE: At a glance: All Bharat Ratna awardees since 1954
Last year, UPA-II government had conferred Bharat Ratna on former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and scientist CNR Rao. BJP, which was in the opposition, had criticised the decision accusing the Congress of ignoring Vajpayee's contribution in nation building.
READ MORE: Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya: The legendary freedom fighter & educationist
It was only then that the BJP had announced that it would confer the Bharat Ratna on Vajpayee if voted to power.
Recently, NDA's former allies like National Conference's Omar Abdullah and Janata Dal (U)'s Nitish Kumar also backed the move.
The award was instituted in January 1954. Since then it has so far been given to 43 persons including India's first PM Jawaharlal Nehru, BR Ambedkar and Mother Teresa.
