Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said it's a moment of pride for every Indian that former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is being bestowed with the Bharat Ratna today.
"It is not only for a political party, for every Indian it's a moment of great pride that former prime minister Atal ji is being bestowed with Bharat Ratna," said Rajnath Singh.
"About Vajpayee ji, I want to say that he is such a personality, not just in Indian politics but also internationally, whose memory brings a sense of reverence in every heart," he added.
President Pranab Mukherjee will present the Bharat Ratna to Vajpayee today at his residence in Lutyens' Delhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be among a host of VVIPs likely to be present at the ceremony.
Various political leaders, including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit, have welcomed the Bharat Ratna for the former prime minister.
Vajpayee, a three-time prime minister of India, is the first leader from the Bharatiya Janata Party to be given the country's highest civilian award.