PV Narasimha Rao, agricultural scientist MS Swaminathan and Karpoori Thakur posthumously, as well as veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani. At five, this is the maximum number of Bharat Ratna announced for a year.
Four Bharat Ratna awards were announced in 1999. Several political leaders cutting across party lines welcomed the announcement of Bharat Ratna for PV Narasimha Rao, Chaudhary Charan Singh and MS Swaminathan on Friday and said they deserved the honour.
Janata Dal (United) MP Rajeev Ranjan Singh described the recipients of the country's highest civilian honour as "gems" of India. "They are gems of India who have been given Bharat Ratna.
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