Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be conferred the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian honour, today by President Pranab Mukherjee at the former’s residence in New Delhi. A host of leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior leaders of the BJP are expected to be present at the ceremony.

Vajpayee, a three-time Prime Minister, was the first non-Congress leader to serve a full five-year term from 1999 to 2004. Home Minister Rajnath Singh said it is a matter of immense happiness for the whole country that Vajpayee is being bestowed such a huge honour.

“His personality, his oratory skill, his honesty and humility signify his greatness. His is a great human being,” he said. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also joined to wish Vajpayee calling him a ‘great statesman who richly deserves the honour’.