President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday conferred Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian honour, on former prime ministers P V Narasimha Rao and Chaudhary Charan Singh, agriculture scientist M S Swaminathan and two-time former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur, posthumously at a ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
The Union home minister said that on November 15, a grand celebration will be held at the 'Statue of Unity' to mark the birth anniversary of tribal icon Birsa Munda.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sought to send out the message that the ruling BJP, unlike its predecessors at the helm, is not guided by parochial politics in recognising contributions in the public life, as the party looks to break new ground during the polls.
The last Bharat Ratna award was conferred upon Pranab Mukherjee in 2019 and was posthumously awarded to Bhupendra Kumar Hazarika and Nanaji Deshmukh. The award was not given to anyone between 2020 and 2023.
Till now, the maximum Bharat Ratnas were awarded in 1999 when four recipients were given the coveted award.
The government's decision to award the Bharat Ratna to Sachin Tendulkar was drawn to a court in Bihar on Tuesday, with a petitioner challenging the Centre's decision to bestow the honour on the just-retired cricketer, alleging a 'conspiracy' to ignore hockey legend Dhyanchand.
The 96-year-old leader, the longest serving president of the BJP, said ever since he joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as its volunteer at the age of 14 years he has sought reward in only one thing "in dedicated and selfless service of my beloved country in whatever task life assigned to me".
The ceremony was attended by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and the family members of Advani, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a post on X.
His five-year rule saw the Babri Masjid demolition, the rise of the saffron forces and also the country being placed firmly on a new economic path, away from the Nehru years of public sector socialism.
Haryana Bharatiya Janata Party leader Birender Singh on Monday threatened to quit the party if does not sever ties with the Jannayak Janta Party, which he accused of indulging in rampant corruption in the state.
BCCI vice-president and Union Minister Rajeev Shukla said, on Tuesday, Sachin Tendulkar is the "most deserving person" to win the Bharat Ratna award and thanked the UPA government for bestowing the honour on the batting legend.
The All India Chess Federation decided to recommend Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand for the coveted 'Bharat Ratna' award.
Notwithstanding the regret expressed by Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament Chandan Mitra for his remarks against Amartya Sen, Congress on Friday slammed the opposition party, saying it reflects "narrow bigotry" and "fascist" mindset which is intolerant towards freedom of speech.
Describing Sachin Tendulkar as worthy recipient of the Bharat Ratna award, sportspersons from different disciplines lend their voice to confer the iconic batsman with the country's highest civilian honour.
The name of Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar is one of the most recommended by various groups for the Bharat Ratna award.
The Union Home Ministry is looking into Sports Minister Ajay Maken's demand to include sports excellence as an area of recognition for the Bharat Ratna.
'Savarkar's opponents should spend two days in the (erstwhile) Andaman Cellular Jail to understand the hardships he was put through by the British'
Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly joined the chorus in demanding Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award, to batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar.
Lamba alleged AAP supremo and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal made promises which he knew he would not be able to fulfil.
>The farmers will go home but the country will not get the agricultural reform it badly needs -- if nothing else, then to prevent a bigger water crisis than already exists, argues T N Ninan.
If BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla has to be believed then Sachin Tendulkar is in Parliament because of Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
Blaming the Congress for criminalising politics, Narendra Modi on Monday said that if voted to power he will set up special courts to try the tainted MPs and MLAs and send the guilty behind bars within one year.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday asked why India's highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna, has not been conferred on former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee was on Friday conferred with the Bharat Ratna.
'Bharat Ratna and longest bridges, while necessary, will not promote the peace and prosperity of the citizens of India. Only just popular laws and foresight on the part of the leadership will'
Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar on Monday said that he could not believe he has turned 44 as he celebrated his birthday in front of thousands of adoring fans at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
The process of conferring the country's highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna on batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar was initiated on the first day of his farewell 200th cricket Test on November 14, 2013 and the announcement made two days later, according to an RTI reply.
Former prime minister and BJP veteran leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee and freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malaviya will be conferred with the country's highest civilian award the "Bharat Ratna" after President Pranab Mukherjee gave his consent in his regard on Wednesday.
Lamba claimed after the walkout, "I got a message from the CM to tender my resignation. I'm ready to do so".
A major slugfest erupted on Thursday over Bharatiya Janata Party MP Chandan Mitra's demand for stripping Nobel laureate Amartya Sen of the Bharat Ratna award and the economist offering to return it if Atal Bihari Vajpayee asks him to do so.
Modi said social justice is not a lip service for the government but a commitment.
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