Mamata Banerjee welcomes Bharat Ratna for former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee

KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today welcomed the Centre's decision to confer ' Bharat Ratna' on former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

"I welcome the decision. We all love and respect Vajpayeeji," Banerjee, who served as a minister in the Vajpayee cabinet, told the media when her reaction was sought on the announcement made by the Centre.

The President today announced to award Bharat Ratna to Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya (posthumously) and to Atal Bihari Vajpayee.