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Atal Behari Vajpayee: India honours former PM with Bharat Ratna | Atal Behari Vajpayee: India honours former PM with Bharat Ratna |
(35 minutes later) | |
The former Indian prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has been honoured with the country's highest civilian award. | The former Indian prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has been honoured with the country's highest civilian award. |
Authorities announced the Bharat Ratna (Jewel of India) for the senior politician from PM Narendra Modi's BJP party a day before he turns 90. | Authorities announced the Bharat Ratna (Jewel of India) for the senior politician from PM Narendra Modi's BJP party a day before he turns 90. |
A charismatic leader and a master orator, Mr Vajpayee retired from active politics in 2005. | A charismatic leader and a master orator, Mr Vajpayee retired from active politics in 2005. |
Educationist and freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malaviya has been given the award posthumously. | Educationist and freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malaviya has been given the award posthumously. |
He is best known for setting up the Benaras Hindu University (BHU) in Varanasi in 1916. He died in 1946. | He is best known for setting up the Benaras Hindu University (BHU) in Varanasi in 1916. He died in 1946. |
So far, 43 people have been given the Bharat Ratna, including cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, musician Ravi Shankar, singer MS Subbalakshmi, filmmaker Satyajit Ray, South African leader Nelson Mandela and a pioneer of India's missile technology and former president APJ Abdul Kalam. | So far, 43 people have been given the Bharat Ratna, including cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, musician Ravi Shankar, singer MS Subbalakshmi, filmmaker Satyajit Ray, South African leader Nelson Mandela and a pioneer of India's missile technology and former president APJ Abdul Kalam. |
"President Pranab Mukherjee has been pleased to award Bharat Ratna to Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya (posthumously) and to Atal Behari Vajpayee," according to a statement from the Rashtrapati Bhawan (presidential palace) on Wednesday morning. | "President Pranab Mukherjee has been pleased to award Bharat Ratna to Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya (posthumously) and to Atal Behari Vajpayee," according to a statement from the Rashtrapati Bhawan (presidential palace) on Wednesday morning. |
Mr Vajpayee, often described as the "moderate face" of his Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), enjoyed a wider appeal than his more hardline party colleagues. | Mr Vajpayee, often described as the "moderate face" of his Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), enjoyed a wider appeal than his more hardline party colleagues. |
He served as India's prime minister for six years spread over two terms. | He served as India's prime minister for six years spread over two terms. |
Since his retirement, he's not been seen in public and reports say he is in bad health. | Since his retirement, he's not been seen in public and reports say he is in bad health. |
The award has been welcomed by senior BJP leader LK Advani. | |
"A Bharat Ratna for Atal Behari Vajpayee should not be seen in terms of a reward for doing his duty but as an award that recognises his stature. It would be very appropriate and befitting for a patriot like Vajpayee," he told an Indian television channel. | "A Bharat Ratna for Atal Behari Vajpayee should not be seen in terms of a reward for doing his duty but as an award that recognises his stature. It would be very appropriate and befitting for a patriot like Vajpayee," he told an Indian television channel. |
Congress party MP Naveen Jindal said it was a "well deserved honour": | Congress party MP Naveen Jindal said it was a "well deserved honour": |
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