AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday said that Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar was given the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, in 1990 out of compulsion and not by choice.

Ambedkar was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1990, 34 years after his death, by VP Singh government.

"Mujhe yeh batao ki jitne Bharat Ratna ke award diye gaye usmein se kitne dalit, adivasi, musalmanon, garibon, upper caste aur Brahminon ko diye gaye? Babasaheb ko Bharat Ratna diya par dil se nahi diya majboori ki halat mein diya (Tell me how many Bharat Ratna awards have been given to Dalit, Adivasi, Muslim, poor, upper caste and Brahmin? Babasaheb (Ambedkar) was given Bharat Ratna, but out of compulsion and not by choice)."

His statement comes days after the central government announced the names of former President Pranab Mukherjee, late legendary singer Bhupen Hazarika, and late social activist Nanaji Deshmukh as the recipients of the coveted honour this year.