Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee conferred D.Litt by Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Open University

NEW DELHI: Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was today conferred with honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) degree by Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Open University here.

The honour was conferred on the former Prime Minister, who was recently bestowed with the country's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna, for his contribution in the field of politics, education, literature and social life among others.

The decision to confer the honour on Vajpayee was taken by the university in August 2014, but it was formally handed over to him at his residence here today by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who was accompanied by university Vice-Chancellor Tariq Zafar, Registrar B B Bharti and several state ministers.

After honouring the former Prime Minister, Chouhan said that the university feels honoured by conferring honorary D.Litt degree to Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

"He is a jewel of the country. Atal Ji felt happy and he accepted the honour," Chouhan said.

Besides the Chief Minister, Union Minister Narendra Tomar, BJP Organisation Secretary Arvind Menon, MPs Alok Sanjar, Nand Kumar Chouhan and Vajpayee's nephew Anoop Mishra were also present.

Madhya Pradesh ministers Yashodhara Raje Scindia, Gopal Bhargava, Deepak Joshi, Kailash Vijayvargia, Surendra Patwa, Gouri Shanker Shajwar, Babulal Gaur, Narottam Mishra, Gouri Shanker Bisen, Vijay Shah, Sartaj Singh, Gyan Singh, Antar Singh Arya and Rampal Singh were also present on the occasion.