- Sunday, November 24, 2024
The PM said honouring Advani, who was once considered the former’s mentor, a very emotional moment for him.
By: Shubham Ghosh
IN a major development ahead of the next general elections due in a few months, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (3) announced that veteran leader of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Lal Krishna Advani, will be conferred the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian award.
The PM in a post on X said he congratulated the 96-year-old patriarch and former deputy prime minister and called him “one of most respected statesmen of our times”.
He also said conferring the Bharat Ratna on Advani, who was once considered the former’s mentor, a very emotional moment for him.
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In his posts on X, Modi said, “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 life that started from working at the grassroots to serving the nation as our Deputy Prime Minister. He distinguished himself as our Home Minister and I&B Minister as well. His Parliamentary interventions have always been exemplary, full of rich insights.
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Advani Ji’s decades-long service in public life has been marked by an unwavering commitment to transparency and integrity, setting an exemplary standard in political ethics. He has made unparalleled efforts towards furthering national unity and cultural resurgence. The conferring…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 3, 2024
“Advani Ji’s decades-long service in public life has been marked by an unwavering commitment to transparency and integrity, setting an exemplary standard in political ethics. He has made unparalleled efforts towards furthering national unity and cultural resurgence. The conferring of the Bharat Ratna on him is a very emotional moment for me. I will always consider it my privilege that I got countless opportunities to interact with him and learn from him.”
Advani, who was born in Karachi in present-day Pakistan, is considered as the leader who had spearheaded the Hindutva movement in India, particularly the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. He, however, was allegedly sidelined once the Modi era dawned and was not present at the inauguration of the Ram temple in the holy Indian town of Ayodhya in January.
Advani had served as the deputy (2002-04) to the late prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was also conferred Bharat Ratna by the Modi government in 2015, besides holding several ministries at the federal government during a career that spanned several decades.
