Lal Krishna Advani to Receive Bharat Ratna: The veteran leader of the BJP, Lal Krishna Advani, will be honored with the country’s highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna, at the age of 96. Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared this information on social media last Saturday.

He becomes the third leader of the BJP to receive this honor after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the party’s founding member Nanaji Deshmukh. Additionally, he is the 50th personality to be honored with the Bharat Ratna so far.

Prime Minister Modi shared two pictures with Advani on social media and wrote, “I am very pleased to share that Lal Krishna Advani ji will be honored with Bharat Ratna. I spoke to him and congratulated him on this well-deserved honor.”

Since assuming office in 2014, this is the seventh Bharat Ratna awarded under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Prior to Advani, it was announced on January 23 that former Chief Minister of Bihar, Karpoori Thakur, will be posthumously awarded Bharat Ratna.

In addition to Advani, this prestigious honor has been bestowed upon leaders like Madan Mohan Malaviya, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Pranab Mukherjee, Bhupen Hazarika, and Nanaji Deshmukh. The central government has the authority to confer this honor on three individuals annually.

I am very happy to share that Shri LK Advani Ji will be conferred the Bharat Ratna. I also spoke to him and congratulated him on being conferred this honour. One of the most respected statesmen of our times, his contribution to the development of India is monumental. His is a… pic.twitter.com/Ya78qjJbPK

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 3, 2024

Prime Minister Modi said, “No one can forget their contribution to the country’s development.”

In a heartfelt message, the Prime Minister wrote, “They are the most respected statesmen of our time. No one can forget their contribution to the development of the country. They started their work at the grassroots level and rose to the position of Deputy Prime Minister. They also served as the Home Minister and Information and Broadcasting Minister of the country. Their parliamentary style will always be commendable. In public life, Advani Ji remained committed to transparency and integrity for decades. He established an exemplary standard in political ethics. He made unprecedented efforts to advance national unity and cultural rejuvenation.”

“It is a very emotional moment for me that they have been honored with the Bharat Ratna. I will always consider it my privilege to have had countless opportunities to have conversations with them and learn from them.”

Advani recited a Sanskrit mantra and remembered Vajpayee.

On receiving the Bharat Ratna, Advani expressed, “I accept the Bharat Ratna with extreme humility and gratitude that has been conferred upon me today. It is not just an honor for me as an individual, but also a respect for the ideals and principles for which I have devoted my entire capacity to serve throughout my life.”

Advani said, “Since I joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh as a volunteer at the age of 14, I have only had one aspiration in life. Whatever task has been assigned to me in life, it has been dedicated and selfless service to my country. The guiding principle that has inspired my life is ‘Idam Na Mam’ – ‘This life is not mine, it is for my nation.'”

He added, “Today, I fondly remember the two individuals with whom I had the honor of working closely – Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay and Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. I express gratitude to President Draupadi Murmu and PM Modi for the honor. I also remember the BJP family and the late wife Kamala Advani.”

In 2015, Advani was honored with the Padma Vibhushan.

In 2015, L.K. Advani was honored with the second-highest civilian award in the country, the Padma Vibhushan. In the same year, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was conferred with the Bharat Ratna. President Pranab Mukherjee personally visited Vajpayee’s residence and presented him with the award. At that time, Vajpayee was 90 years old and in poor health. Breaking protocol, Mukherjee went to Vajpayee’s residence on Krishna Menon Marg to confer the Bharat Ratna. Besides Vajpayee, the same year saw the posthumous award of this honor to Mahamana Madan Mohan Malaviya. In 2019, Pranab Mukherjee was also honored with the Bharat Ratna.

Founding member of the BJP, served as the 7th Deputy Prime Minister

Advani was born on November 8, 1927, in Karachi. Between 2002 and 2004, he served as the 7th Deputy Prime Minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government. Prior to this, from 1998 to 2004, he held the position of Home Minister in the NDA government. He is a founding member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

L.K. Advani’s Rath Yatra led to Modi’s rise

Lal Krishna Advani, at the age of 63, undertook a Rath Yatra from Somnath in Gujarat to Ayodhya for the Ram Mandir movement. Initiated on September 25, 1990, this journey was led by the late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan alongside the current Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. The remarkable success of Advani’s Rath Yatra was evident as the BJP, which had won only two seats in 1984, secured 120 seats in 1991. Not only that, but Advani also established himself as a prominent Hindu leader nationwide. Additionally, the BJP gained recognition in states like Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, and more.

Following this Yatra, Advani became a prominent Hindu leader throughout the country, although he couldn’t complete his journey. He was arrested on October 23, 1990, in Samastipur, Bihar.

The announcement of conferring Bharat Ratna on Advani, what did people say?

Pratibha Advani (Daughter)

Dad has received the highest honor in the country. I and our entire family are thrilled about this news. Today, I am deeply reminded of my mom. In Dad’s personal and political life, Mom has made a significant contribution. As soon as I found out and told Dad, he was overjoyed. Dad said that he devoted his entire life to serving the country. At this stage of life, he has received the highest honor, and for this, he thanks PM Modi and the people of the country.

Akhilesh Yadav (SP Chief)

Tickets for all MPs are being cut. One MP is changing his seat. Imagine, in such situations where they have to do politics, what will they gain? They (BJP) are more concerned about others. They should be worried about themselves. This Bharat Ratna is being given to bind the votes, not in honor.

Mallikarjun Kharge (Congress President)

We welcome the announcement of conferring Bharat Ratna on Lal Krishna Advani ji.

Jairam Ramesh (Congress Leader)

In 2002, Lal Krishna Advani saved Narendra Modi’s Chief Ministerial post in Goa. In 2014, in Gandhinagar, Advani said, “Narendra Modi is not my disciple; he is an excellent event manager.” When I see both (Lal Krishna Advani and PM Narendra Modi), these statements come to my mind. In 2014, Lal Krishna Advani had presented Modi’s real character in front of the country.

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