India is celebrating Vajpayee, Malviya's Bharat Ratna: Arun Jaitley

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday stated that India is celebrating former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee Malviya's Bharat Ratna, adding that the award was a celebration of their contribution to the nation.

"The entire nation today is celebrating the honour it has conferred on Madan Mohan Malviya and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Both have been conferred with the highest civilian award of Bharat Ratna and it is recognition of their services to this country," Jaitley told mediapersons.

The minister further talked of the contributions of the two eminent personalities.

"Malviya ji was an eminent freedom fighter, an eminent lawyer and a great educationist and a very strong nationalist. He was for several terms, the president of the Indian National Congress and established the Benaras Hindu University, the legacy of which is very powerful till today," he said.

"Atal Bihari Vajpayee has been one of the most outstanding prime ministers and political leaders that India has seen. He has been a very strong nationalist committed to the cause of this country and a man who always realised the value of consensus. He was one of the greatest communicators that India has ever seen and made his presence felt at a national level. He was also committed to peace in South-East Asia," he added.

Earlier today, the Rashtrapati Bhavan, through a press communique, stated that President Pranab Mukherjee will be conferring the Bharat Ratna to Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya (posthumously) and to Atal Bihari Vajpayee.