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Congress stalwart and former President of India from 2012 to 2017 Pranab Mukherjee, Bharatiya Jana Sangh leader Nanaji Deshmukh and singer Bhupen Hazarika will be conferred the country’s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna.
The Bharat Ratna will be conferred after a gap of four years. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and founder of Banaras Hindu University Madan Mohan Malviya were given the award by the Narendra Modi government in 2015.
In an official statement, the government said Deshmukh and Hazarika have been selected for the award posthumously.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Mukherjee is an outstanding statesman of present times who has served the nation selflessly and tirelessly for decades, leaving a strong imprint on the nation’s growth trajectory.
‘His (Mukherjee) wisdom and intellect have few parallels. Delighted that he has been conferred the Bharat Ratna,’ Modi tweeted.
Pranab Da is an outstanding statesman of our times.
He has served the nation selflessly and tirelessly for decades, leaving a strong imprint on the nation’s growth trajectory.
His wisdom and intellect have few parallels. Delighted that he has been conferred the Bharat Ratna.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 25, 2019
Referring to Deshmukh, Modi said his stellar contribution towards rural development showed the way for a new paradigm of empowering those living in our villages.
‘He (Deshmukh) personifies humility, compassion and service to the downtrodden. He is a Bharat Ratna in the truest sense!’ he tweeted.
Nanaji Deshmukh’s stellar contribution towards rural development showed the way for a new paradigm of empowering those living in our villages.
He personifies humility, compassion and service to the downtrodden. He is a Bharat Ratna in the truest sense!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 25, 2019
Praising Hazarika, Modi said his songs and music are admired by people across generations.
‘From them radiates the message of justice, harmony and brotherhood.
‘He (Hazarika) popularised India’s musical traditions globally. Happy that the Bharat Ratna has been conferred on Bhupen Da,’ the Prime Minister tweeted.
The 83-year-old Mukherjee, who was also known as the quintessential Man Friday of the Congress, joins the elite club with Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Rajendra Prasad, Zakir Hussain and V V Giri who had been conferred the coveted award.
Expressing gratitude over the award, Mukherjee said, “I have got more from the people of our great country than I have given to them”.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi congratulated former president Pranab Mukherjee on being conferred the Bharat Ratna, saying he is ‘one of our own’ who has been recognised and honoured. He tweeted
Congratulations to Pranab Da on being awarded the Bharat Ratna!
The Congress Party takes great pride in the fact that the immense contribution to public service & nation building of one of our own, has been recognised & honoured.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 25, 2019
Gandhi also was happy that Bhupen Hazarika and Nanaji Deshmukh were conferred with Bharat Ratna
I’m happy that Shri Bhupen Hazarika and Nanaji Deshmukh have been honoured, posthumously, with the Bharat Ratna.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 25, 2019
