Kolkata, March 27 (IANS): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday expressed happiness over the conferring of the nation's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, on former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
"Happy that Atal Ji is being conferred Bharat Ratna today," Banerjee said in a tweet.
Describing Vajpayee as a "great statesmen", she extended her wishes to him.
" A truly great statesman who richly deserves honour. I wish him well," she said in another tweet.
Vajpayee was conferred with the Bharat Ratna by President Pranab Mukherjee at a brief ceremony at the former prime minister's home.
The president, in a break from protocol, bestowed the honour on the nonagenarian Bharatiya Janata Party leader, who is keeping poor health, at his Krishna Menon Marg residence.