DHAKA: India’s BJP-led union government may announce its decision to confer the Bharat Ratna Award for former prime minister and veteran party leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Sources said, reports NDTV.

The BJP has long demanded that the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, be conferred to Vajpayee, who had led the first BJP-led government at the Centre between 1999 and 2004.

There may be more than one recipient of the prestigious honour this year, said sources.

The names of freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malviya and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Dalit leader and founder of Bahujan Samaj Party Kanshi Ram and legendary hockey player Dhyanchand are also being considered for the honour, they said.

BDST: 1758 HRS, AUG 10, 2014