President Droupadi Murmu awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, to BJP veteran and former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani at his residence on Sunday. The ceremony was attended by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Ministthe er Amit Shah, and Advani's family members, as per a statement from the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
PM Modi was seated beside Advani as the President conferred the prestigious Bharat Ratna upon the veteran leader.
Taking to X, PM Modi stated: "It was very special to witness the conferring of the Bharat Ratna upon Shri LK Advani Ji. This honour is a recognition of his enduring contributions to our nation's progress. His dedication to public service and his pivotal role in shaping modern India have left an indelible mark on our history. I am proud to have got the opportunity to work with him very closely over the last several decades."
Described as a stalwart of Indian politics, Advani has devoted over seven decades to serving the nation with steadfast dedication and distinction, as stated by the Rashtrapati Bhavan on X (previously known as Twitter). His parliamentary career has been marked by a commitment to dialogue, which has significantly enriched the traditions of Parliament, according to the post. Throughout his tenure, whether in the role of Home Minister or Deputy Prime Minister, Advani consistently prioritised the nation's interests above all else, garnering respect and admiration from individuals across party affiliations.
"His long and tireless struggle for India's cultural regeneration culminated in the reconstruction of Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya in 2024," it said.
Who Is LK Advani?
Born in Karachi, now part of Pakistan, in 1927, LK Advani migrated to India in 1947 during the Partition.
The 96-year-old BJP stalwart served as Deputy Prime Minister from June 2002 to May 2004 and as Union Home Minister from October 1999 to May 2004. He held the position of BJP president multiple times, serving from 1986 to 1990, 1993 to 1998, and 2004 to 2005.
As the Information and Broadcasting Minister in the Janata Party government (1977-79), Advani played a crucial role in restoring democracy by dismantling the antidemocratic legal framework of the Emergency, according to the profile of the veteran leader shared by the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
His contribution during that period was not only intellectually inspiring but also politically impactful.
A significant moment in Advani's political career occurred when he led the Ram Janmabhoomi movement in the late 1980s, laying the foundation for the resurgence of cultural nationalism.