Bharat Ratna, Padma awards cannot be used as titles: Govt

The government on Tuesday said the Bharat Ratna and Padma awards are not titles and cannot be used as prefix or suffix to names of the recipient. Informing the Lok Sabha, Union Minister Hansraj Ahir said the awards can be withdrawn in case of misuse. The minister said, immediately after these awards were conferred, every awardee was communicated the rules.