New Delhi, Feb 03, 2024, 11:36 AM IST: Prime Minister Narendra Modi revealed on Saturday that Lal Krishna Advani, the veteran leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been conferred with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award. This recognition comes as a tribute to Advani’s monumental contributions to Indian politics, including his pivotal role in the nationwide prominence of the BJP during the early 1990s.
PM Modi’s Announcement
Prime Minister Modi expressed his joy at the news, stating, “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 honor.” Modi went on to acknowledge Advani’s crucial role in shaping India’s development, emphasizing his status as one of the most respected statesmen in the country.
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
A Monumental Life and Political Career
Lal Krishna Advani’s journey began in Karachi, where he was born, and later migrated to India after the Partition. Settling in Bombay, he joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at the age of fourteen in 1941. Advani’s political career commenced in 1951 when he became a member of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the precursor to the BJP, founded by Syama Prasad Mookerjee.
Over the years, Advani played a pivotal role in Indian politics. He served four terms in the Rajya Sabha from 1970 to 1989, holding key positions such as the minister for information and broadcasting and leader of the house in Rajya Sabha after the Janata Party’s victory in the 1977 general elections.
As one of the founding members of the BJP, Advani served as the party president three times. He became a Lok Sabha member in 1989 and, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee formed a government in 1999, Advani took on the roles of Minister of Home Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister.
In recognition of his service to the nation, LK Advani was honored with the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award, in 2015.
A Statesman’s Legacy
Prime Minister Modi praised Advani’s parliamentary interventions as “exemplary, full of rich insights.” The veteran leader’s journey, from grassroots work to serving as the Deputy Prime Minister, has left an indelible mark on Indian politics. The Bharat Ratna is a fitting tribute to the enduring legacy of Lal Krishna Advani.
As India celebrates the contribution of this political stalwart, the Bharat Ratna marks a historic moment, recognizing Advani’s tireless efforts in shaping the political landscape of the nation.
