President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be among a host of VVIPs who are likely to be present at the Krishna Memon marg residence of Mr. Vajpayee.

In a departure from tradition, President Pranab Mukherjee will confer the Bharat Ratna on Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the residence of the former Prime Minister on Friday.

The Bharat Ratna will be conferred posthumously on Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya at a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on March 30, along with the civil investiture ceremony for the Padma awards. Pandit Malviya’s family will receive the honour.

Government sources said Mr. Mukherjee would reach the residence of Mr. Vajpayee in the evening. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and a select group of senior Ministers and party leaders will be present.

Source: TH