BJP Stalwart LK Advani Awarded Bharat Ratna

Lal Krishna Advani, a prominent leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a key figure in catapulting the party to national prominence, has been honored with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the prestigious award, praising Advani’s monumental role in the development of India and describing him as one of the most respected statesmen in the country.

PM Modi, who shared the news on social media, highlighted Advani’s remarkable contributions to India’s progress, starting from grassroots work to serving as Deputy Prime Minister. Advani served in significant roles such as Home Minister and Information & Broadcasting Minister, with exemplary parliamentary interventions that were full of rich insights, according to PM Modi.

Expressing his emotions, PM Modi acknowledged Advani’s decades-long commitment to transparency, integrity, and political ethics. He emphasized Advani’s unparalleled efforts in promoting national unity and cultural resurgence. The Bharat Ratna bestowed upon Advani is deemed a poignant moment for PM Modi, who considers it a privilege to have interacted and learned from the veteran leader.

Lal Krishna Advani, born in Karachi and later settling in Bombay after Partition, joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at the age of fourteen in 1941. He became a member of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1951 and played a pivotal role in the formation and growth of the BJP. Advani served as the party president three times and held various ministerial positions, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs.

Notably, Advani’s Rath Yatra in 1990, advocating for the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, played a crucial role in the BJP’s rise to becoming the second-largest party in the parliament after the Congress in the 1991 general elections.

The announcement of Bharat Ratna for Advani garnered reactions from political leaders, with BJP members extending congratulations and opposition figures acknowledging his contributions. The honor comes after Advani was conferred with the Padma Vibhushan in 2015, India’s second-highest civilian honor.