Bharat Ratna for Vajpayee, Malaviya

READ: Madan Mohan Malviya – A great patriot

Atal ji means so much to everyone.A guide, inspiration & giant among giants. His contribution to India is invaluable pic.twitter.com/1MYzQbaakO

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 24, 2014

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

Conferring Bharat Ratna on Mahamana Madan Mohan Malviya ji is manifestation of India’s respect for its great nationalist educationists.

— ShivrajSingh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) December 24, 2014

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 24, 2014

Country’s highest honour to these illustrious stalwarts is a fitting recognition of their service to the Nation.

Atal ji, the tallest statesman of our times. An inspiration of service to the nation. Bharat Ratna is least India could confer on her son.

— ShivrajSingh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) December 24, 2014

It is indeed heartening and a matter of pride for every Indian to confer Bharat Ratna two of its most precious gems – Mahamana & Atal ji.

— ShivrajSingh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) December 24, 2014

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 24, 2014

Bharat Ratna being conferred on Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya & Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee is a matter of great delight.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 24, 2014

“The President has been pleased to award Bharat Ratna to Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya (posthumously) and to Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee,” said the one-line communique from Rashtrapati Bhavan.

#PresidentMukherjee has been pleased to award Bharat Ratna to Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya (posthumously) and to Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

— President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) December 24, 2014

Last year, when the then UPA government announced the Bharat Ratna for scientist C N R Rao and cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, the BJP had crticised the government for ignoring Vajpayee.

Describing Vajpayee as “one of the most outstanding prime ministers and leader that the country has seen in post-independence era,” Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, “He believed in taking the country forward through consensus and is the greatest communicator India has seen.”

“He is an anmol ratna. He is one of the rare leaders who is not only recognised in India but even outside the country… We have decided to celebrate his birthday as ‘Good Governance Day’ and all parliamentarians and ministers have been asked to go to their constituencies and organise cultural programmes. The Bharat Ratna has come at the appropriate time,” said Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

Singh also described Malaviya as a great educationist and freedom fighter. “The Bharat Ratna is a recognition of his tremendous contribution,” he said.

Malaviya was president of the Indian National Congress and also one of the intial members of the Hindu Mahasabha. He set up the Banaras Hindu University. Malaviya’s grandson, Giridhar Malaviya, a former judge, was one of the proposers for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s candidature from the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat earlier this year.