Former President Pranab Mukherjee awarded Bharat Ratna, Modi heaps praises

Delhi: former President Pranab Mukherjee was on Friday (January 25) conferred with the highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna.

According to a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan, late Assamese singer Bhupen Hazarika and late social activist Nanaji Deshmukh will also be awarded with the Bharat Ratna, posthumously.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted three consecutive tweets to laud the contributions of the three eminent personalities.

Praising Pranab Mukherjee who has served for decades as a Congressman, a senior minister in several Congress-led governments and then as the President, PM Modi wrote on Twitter, "Pranab Da is an outstanding statesman of our times. He has served the nation selflessly and tirelessly for decades, leaving a strong imprint on the nation's growth trajectory. His wisdom and intellect have few parallels. Delighted that he has been conferred the Bharat Ratna."

Pranab Mukherjee, 83, served as the President of India since 2012 to 2017.

Bhupen Hazarika, one of the most popular regional singers and someone who is synonymous with the Assamese identity, had earlier been awarded with Padmashri, Padmabhushan, Dada Saheb Phalke Award among others things.

Meanwhile, social activist Nanaji Deshmukh was conferred with the award for his contribution to the nation.

He played an important role in the JP movement of the 1970s and was a long-time member of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS). He was the driving force behind social activist Jayaprakash Narayan's agitation for total revolution.