UPA Govt not to give Bharat Ratna this year

New Delhi: The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government has decided to steer clear of the Bharat Ratna controversy and decided not to give the nation's highest civilian honour for the seventh year in a row.

The last time the Bharat Ratna was given was in 2001, when Bismillah Khan and Lata Mangeshkar together were honoured with it.

So far 41 Indians have been awarded the Ratna, among them 10 were given posthumously.

This year many political parties have been lobbying for the Ratna with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati demanding that the honour be bestowed on BSP founder Kanshi Ram.