Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Saturday that veteran BJP leader and former deputy prime minister Lal Krishna Advani will be conferred with the prestigious Bharat Ratna award, the highest civilian honour in India. Modi said he was delighted to share this news and also spoke to Advani over the phone to congratulate him.
Advani is one of the most respected and senior politicians of our times, whose contribution to the development of India is unforgettable. He started his political journey as an ordinary worker and served the nation as the deputy prime minister. He also held the portfolios of home minister and information and broadcasting minister. His parliamentary interventions were always exemplary and rich in insight.
Modi said that Advani’s decades-long service in public life was marked by unwavering commitment to transparency and integrity, which set a high standard of political morality. He also praised Advani for his efforts to promote national unity and cultural resurgence. He said that it was an emotional moment for him to honour Advani with the Bharat Ratna. He added that he would always consider it his fortune to have got numerous opportunities to interact with and learn from him.
The Bharat Ratna has been awarded to 49 personalities so far, including former presidents, prime ministers, scientists, social reformers, and cultural icons. Advani will be the 50th recipient of this honour. He is widely regarded as the architect of the BJP’s rise to power at the national level and the mentor of many leaders, including Modi himself. He is also known for his role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and the Rath Yatra. He has been a member of parliament for over 50 years and currently represents the Gandhinagar constituency in Gujarat.
