Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday said it was a matter of pride as former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be honoured with the Bharat Ratna.
"It is a matter of great happiness and pride that Vajpayee ji is being honoured with the Bharat Ratna. Good wishes for his health and long life," he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be among a host of VVIPs, who will be present at Vajpayee's residence in Lutyens' Delhi, during the ceremony later in the day.
President Pranab Mukherjee will also confer the Bharat Ratna on Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya (posthumously) on March 30 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan along with the Civil Investiture Ceremony for the Padma Awards.
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