The New Indian Express: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray Saturday demanded that the country's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, be conferred on Amitabh Bachchan. "Amitabh Bachchan is the last 'Shahenshah' (emperor) of Bollywood. In many countries of the world, the people don't know who is the President or Prime Minister of the country, but they know Bachchan," Thackeray said in an editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamna. "He is a real jewel of India who has brought laurels to the country...Bachchan truly deserves the Bharat Ratna," Thackeray said. Praising various qualities of the megastar, he pointed out that some time ago, another Bharat Ratna, singer Lata Mangeshkar, had also suggested Bachchan's name for the honour. Bachchan is "as deserving as Sachin Tendulkar for the Bharat Ratna, Read Full: Bal Thackeray demands Bharat Ratna for Big B |Amitbah Bachchan|Bharat Ratna|Bal Thackeray | The New Indian Express
