Indian politician Dr. Subramanian Swamy said former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa should be given the Bharat Ratna award for freeing Sri Lanka and India from the LTTE terrorism. 

"Just as we have awarded Bharat Ratna to Mandela for freeing his people we should award MR for freeing his people and Bharatiyas from LTTE terror," Swamy tweeted. 

Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the Republic of India.  Instituted in 1954, the award is conferred "in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order", without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex.

Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan of Pakistan and the former South African president Nelson Mandela are the only non-Indian who have achieved the Bharat Ratna award so far.

Swamy, a Bharatiya Janatha Party stalwart representing the Indian Rajya Sabha, was recently in Sri Lanka to invite the former President to address a public meeting in New Delhi on September 12. 

He also paid last respect to former President's younger brother Chandra Rajapaksa who passed away in Tangalle recently. 

The former President will be accompanied in New Delhi by former Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa.