Veteran BJP Leader LK Advani to Receive Bharat Ratna, PM Modi Makes the Announcement

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that Lal Krishna Advani, the veteran leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), will be conferred with the prestigious Bharat Ratna, India‘s highest civilian award. PM Modi personally spoke to Advani to congratulate him on this honor.

In his announcement, PM Modi acknowledged the monumental role played by LK Advani in the development of India and described him as one of the most respected statesmen in the country. He praised Advani’s commitment to transparency, integrity, and political ethics.

Born in Karachi and later migrating to India after the Partition, LK Advani joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at a young age. He became a member of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the precursor to the BJP, and served in various roles within the party, including three terms as its president.

Advani’s political career saw him holding positions as the Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha, Minister of Home Affairs, and Deputy Prime Minister under the government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

One of the defining moments of Advani’s political journey was his Rath Yatra in 1990, during which he campaigned for the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. This yatra garnered significant support and propelled the BJP to become the second-largest party in the Indian Parliament.

The announcement of Bharat Ratna for LK Advani has received mixed reactions. Leaders from the BJP, including Brajesh Pathak, expressed their congratulations and gratitude for Advani’s leadership and contributions. However, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit criticized the BJP’s treatment of Advani in the past, but still extended his best wishes.

LK Advani was earlier honored with the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian award, in 2015.

The conferring of the Bharat Ratna upon LK Advani by PM Narendra Modi marks a significant moment in Indian politics and acknowledges the influential role played by Advani throughout his career.