Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Madan Mohan Malaviya awarded with Bharat Ratna

The central government today announced that the prestigious Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, will be given to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malaviya.

After the Cabinet clears the decision on Wednesday, Rashtrapati Bhavan issued a statement saying, “The President has been pleased to award Bharat Ratna to Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya (posthumously) and to Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.”

Soon after the announcement Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Mr. Vajpayee on Twitter.

“Atal ji means so much to everyone. A guide, inspiration & giant among giants,” tweeted PM Modi.

“Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya is remembered as a phenomenal scholar & freedom fighter who lit the spark of national consciousness among people” Modi said.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the three-time prime minister, is considered as one of the most liberal face of BJP. Under his leadership India had achieved various successes and his regime has been considered as one of the most fruitful for Indian economy. A poet, an outstanding orator and true statesman, Vajpayee was popular across party lines. Already the government has announced his birthday i.e. 25th December as the ‘good governance day’.

Senior BJP leader and Vajpayee’s close friend LK Advani congratulated him as saying that he has “blemish-less record and deserves the Bharat Ratna.”

The decision to confer the award to Malviya was another long time demand which has finally been met. Popularly known as ‘Mahamana,’ Madan Mohan Malaviya was well-known educationist and freedom fighter who was the President of the Indian National Congress twice. He is best known as the founder of the largest residential university in Asia Banaras Hindu University.

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