Atal Bihari Vajpayee receives Bharat Ratna: As it happened

Atal Bihari Vajpayee conferred Bharat Ratna by President Pranab Mukherjee

New Delhi: Former prime minister of India and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee was conferred the Bharat Ratna — the country's highest civilian honour— on Friday.

President Pranab Mukherjee personally visited the ailing leader, in a break from tradition, and conferred the award on him.

Here are the LIVE Updates: 

#PresidentMukherjee conferred Bharat Ratna on Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee this evening pic.twitter.com/wNUObPxTXl — President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) March 27, 2015

In a special gesture, #PresidentMukherjee conferred the Award in a simple ceremony held at the residence of Shri Vajpayee

— President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) March 27, 2015

VP, PM, HM, former President Dr. Kalam, former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh, family of Shri Vajpayee & other dignitaries present on the occasion — President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) March 27, 2015

• Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan too was present. 
• Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed too was present at the ceremony.
• BJP president Amit Shah, ministers - Venkaiah Naidu, Dr Harsh Vardhan, Sushma Swaraj present at the ceremony.
• I pray to god that Atal ji's life continues to inspire us and guide us: PM Narendra Modi
• ​Atal ji dedicated his life to the nation, he dedicated every moment of his life for the service of nation: PM Modi 
• Vajpayee ji is a source of inspiration for many Indians like me: PM Modi

Atal ji is an inspiration for so many Indians like me: PM @narendramodi — PMO India (@PMOIndia) March 27, 2015

• ​We got an opportunity to confer Bharat Ratna on Atal ji who dedicated his life to nation,son of mother India: PM Modi 
• Atal ji gave his life to Bharat Bhakti. Today he was honoured with Bharat Ratna: PM Modi

​Atal ji gave his life to Bharat Bhakti. Today he was honoured with Bharat Ratna: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) March 27, 2015

• LK Advani, Sharad Yadav among those present at the ceremony: Arun Jaitley
• PM Narendra Modi, Rajnath Singh were ​present at the ceremony: Arun Jaitley
• Vajpayee ji has left an indelible mark on the country: Arun Jaitley
• It is an honour to the award itself that Vajpayee ji has been conferred the Bharat Ratna: Arun Jaitley
• The ceremony was held by Rashtrapati Bhavan at Vajpayee ji's residence because he doesn't go out on account of health reasons: Arun Jaitley
• Vajpayee ji is unwell: Arun Jaitley
• President leaves Vajpayee's residence.
• Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee conferred Bharat Ratna by President: Arun Jaitley
• President Pranab Mukherjee leaves for former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s residence.
• PM Narendra Modi has welcomed President's gesture of visiting Vajpayee's residence to confer the Bharat Ratna on him. 

Departing from convention,Rashtrapatiji is going to Atalji's residence to confer him the Bharat Ratna. This gesture reflects grace & dignity — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 27, 2015