Headlines
Vajpayee's first photo in years - being conferred Bharat Ratna
New Delhi, March 27
It was probably the first
photograph of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that Indians
saw in years, as President Pranab Mukherjee conferred on him the
nation's highest civilian honour - the Bharat Ratna - at his home here
on Friday.
But the single photograph released - of the
presentation ceremony as President Mukherjee placed the ribboned
medallion around Vajpayee neck - did not show most of his face as the
tray held by the president's ADC blocked the camera view.
Vajpayee,
90, who has been ailing for some years, and is reportedly immobile, was
presented the top honour at his 6, Krishna Menon Marg residence by
President Mukherjee, who in a break from protocol and "in a special
gesture", went to the BJP leader's house to confer the honour.
The
media, which was there in hordes outside the house, was not allowed
inside the gate, except official media. And even the camera that
captured all the guests, including Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime
Minister Narendra Modi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh among
others, was not allowed to accompany them as they went inside.
The still photograph of the ceremony was later released.