Shah hails Bharat Ratna to Pranab, Hazarika, Deshmukh

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday congratulated former President Pranab Mukherjee on being conferred the Bharat Ratna, saying he served the nation with utmost dedication and commitment.

Shah also said the conferment of the country's highest civilian award to late singer Bhupen Hazarika and late Bharatiya Jana Sangh leader Nanaji Deshmukh were matters of great pride for the entire country.

In a series of tweets, the home minister said Mukherjee's knowledge and experience have benefited the nation greatly.

"Congratulations to former President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee ji on being conferred with Bharat Ratna. He is a leader par excellence who has served the nation with utmost dedication and commitment," he said.

Shah said conferring of Bharat Ratna to Bhupen Hazarika is a matter of great pride for the entire India, especially Assam.

"He was a versatile artist who set a benchmark with his exceptional talent. It was Bhupen ji who has introduced the folk music of Assam and Northeast to Hindi cinema," he said.

The home minister said Nanaji Deshmukh spent his entire life in the service of the nation and welfare of people living in villages.

President Ram Nath Kovind gave the award to Mukherjee, Hazarika's son Tej and Vikramjeet Singh, a close relative of Deshmukh, at a function held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here on Thursday.