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Well deserved, poignant acknowledgment of a ‘national hero’s life’: Leaders hail Bharat Ratna to Advani

Thakur described Advani as a 'stalwart statesman' and said his 'monumental contributions' have left an indelible mark.

ByPTI

Published Feb 03, 2024 | 4:23 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 03, 2024 | 6:05 PM

PM Modi with LK Advani

PM Modi with LK Advani. (X)

Congratulatory messages poured in from various quarters as BJP stalwart and former deputy prime minister LK Advani’s name was announced as a recipient of the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian award, on Saturday, 3 February.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the announcement, Union ministers and top leaders of the BJP and its allies said the award to Advani is “well deserved” and serves as a poignant acknowledgement of a “national hero’s life” devoted to the service of the nation.

They also thanked the prime minister for the government’s decision.

Congratulating Advani, Modi said, “One of the most respected statesmen of our times, his contribution to the development of India is monumental.”

An inspiration to all

In a post on X, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, “The decision to award Bharat Ratna to the revered Lal Krishna Advani ji, an inspiration to all of us and a senior leader of the country, has brought great joy and happiness. He is a symbol of purity, dedication and determination in politics.”

The significant contribution that Advani has made to the country’s development and nation-building in various roles during his long public life is “unforgettable and inspiring”, he said.

Advani has also played an “important role in keeping the unity and integrity of India intact”.

As a national leader, he has strengthened the country and democracy through his scholarship, and parliamentary and administrative abilities, the defence minister added.

“I thank Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji for this decision and congratulate Advani ji,” he said, adding it is a “matter of joy for every Indian”.

Advani, 96, was the BJP’s longest-serving president.

Also Read: BJP leader LK Advani to receive Bharat Ratna – India’s highest civilian award

Stalwart statesman

Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur extended “sincerest wishes” to the party veteran on being conferred the highest civilian award and said it serves as a “poignant acknowledgement of a national hero’s life” devoted to the service of the nation.

“This well-deserved Bharat Ratna, conferred under the leadership of Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, serves as a poignant acknowledgement of a national hero’s life devoted to the service of the nation,” Thakur wrote in a post on X.

“I extend my sincerest wishes to Shri LK Advani ji on being conferred with the prestigious Bharat Ratna for his decades-long service to the nation and the people,” he added.

Thakur described Advani as a “stalwart statesman” and said his “monumental contributions” have left an indelible mark on the trajectory of India’s development, leaving an enduring legacy in the realms of politics and cultural unity.

“His unwavering dedication to public service, spanning from grassroots engagements to serving as our Deputy Prime Minister and holding notable positions in the Union Cabinet including I&B Ministry, exemplifies his strong belief in the freedom of expression, the role of media in nation building and lifelong commitment to the welfare of the nation,” the minister said.

“With his valuable insights and wisdom, he brought forward a profound understanding of the nuanced intricacies of governance in the Parliament, setting standards of integrity and transparency,” he added.

‘Top man of Indian politics’

LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan, whose party is a BJP ally, extended “heartiest” congratulations to Advani and expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for the government conferring Bharat Ratna on the BJP stalwart.

“Under the leadership of the country’s illustrious Prime Minister, Honorable Shri Narendra Modi, it has been announced to confer ‘Bharat Ratna’ on the top man of Indian politics, former Deputy Prime Minister, Honorable Shri LK Advani,” Chirag wrote on X.

“For this, from the bottom of my heart, I convey my heartiest congratulations and best wishes to respected Shri Lal Krishna Advani ji. Many thanks and gratitude to Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji,” he added.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami hailed the Centre’s decision to confer Bharat Ratna on Advani.

“It is a matter of great happiness for us that BJP stalwart and our guide Sri Lal Krishna Advani ji is to be conferred the Bharat Ratna,” Dhami said in a social media post.

Describing Advani as a leading political figure of India and a pillar of the Ram temple movement, the chief minister said he is a powerful symbol of integrity and commitment.

“He has been an inspiration for all of us,” he said.

Dhami said his farsighted leadership and contribution to the country’s development as the deputy prime minister, home minister and information and broadcasting minister are unforgettable.

Also Read: LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi requested not to attend consecration: Ram Temple Trust

AP leaders hail Advani

Former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu and several other leaders too hailed the Centre’s decision to confer the Bharat Ratna award on veteran BJP leader LK Advani.

Venkaiah Naidu said on X that he is pleased beyond words to learn that the highest civilian award has been conferred on Advani.

The former vice president, who described Advani as “our mentor”, recalled the outstanding contributions of the former Deputy Prime Minister to the nation.

“Shri Advani’s statesmanlike leadership, his contribution as an outstanding parliamentarian, the grace he brought to all positions he held, his role as a senior ideologue, his commitment to value-based politics, remain imprinted in public memory,” Venkaiah Naidu said.

Advani’s historic Rath Yatra, which brought momentum to the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, will go down in history as a watershed moment, he said.

The former vice president said he spoke to Advani’s daughter and conveyed his “boundless joy” on the occasion.

Welcoming the announcement of Bharat Ratna for the veteran BJP leader, Kishan Reddy said Advani’s public life, marked by transparency and values for decades, is guidance.

He thanked PM Narendra Modi for announcing the award.

Describing Advani as a “scholar and statesman”, Chandrababu Naidu recalled working with the former Deputy PM.

“Advani Ji has distinguished himself through exemplary hard work and devotion towards the nation. A scholar and statesman, he has made exceptional contributions to the country,” the TDP supremo said.

“I’ve had the privilege of working with him. His genuine warmth and affectionate nature leaves a lasting impression on everyone,” he said.

Senior BJP leader in Telangana and former MLC N Ramchander Rao said Advani’s guidance was invaluable for “workers” like him.

“His journey from grassroots to Deputy Prime Minister has been inspiring, and his guidance has been invaluable to countless party workers like me,” Rao said.

K’taka leaders welcome the decision

Karnataka BJP and JD(S) leaders welcomed the Centre’s decision to confer Bharat Ratna on veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani.

Former CM and BJP stalwart BS Yediyurappa hailed the decision.

“If there is a Ram Temple in Ayodhya today, then it is because of Lal Krishna Advani. Advani was present when Babri Masjid was demolished,” he told reporters in Bengaluru.

Yediyurappa said he was fortunate to attend the public meeting Advani had addressed during the demolition of Babri Masjid.

Everyone is happy with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement to bestow Bharat Ratna on Advani, he added.

‘Real son of the soil’

Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai expressed his joy over the Centre’s decision.

He said it is a matter of pride that Advani has been conferred with the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award.

Bommai said that Advani is “the real son of the soil”.

“Advani started his public life through Jan Sangh and displayed his patriotism for the country by participating in the Kashmir agitation started by Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. Through the Ram Janma Bhumi agitation, he emotionally united the people of the country. Thanks to his efforts, the Ram Mandir, a dream of millions of people, has become a reality,” the former CM said.

He also said Advani strengthened the internal security of the nation as Union Home Minister and made Bharat a strong nation.

JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy extended his greetings to the veteran BJP leader.

“Heartfelt congratulations to senior politician, BJP stalwart, and former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani, who has been honoured with the prestigious ‘Bharat Ratna,’ the country’s highest civilian award,” Kumaraswamy said on X.

“Thanks to the central government and Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi for recognising and announcing this well-deserved award for a person of such high distinction. Advani is an inspiration to all, embodying loyalty, commitment, friendliness, and hard work in Indian politics. I extend my best wishes to him,” he added.

 K’taka LoP recalls Rath Yatra

Leader of Opposition R Ashoka hailed the announcement of the Bharat Ratna award to the former Deputy Prime Minister.

“LK Advani is an ideal person, who never compromised on principles and ideology. If he hadn’t lit the ‘Ramajyoti’ in India, we wouldn’t have seen Ram Temple in Ayodhya today,” the BJP leader said.

He recalled that he was with Advani as a Bajrang Dal worker when his Rath Yatra was travelling in Karnataka.

Pejavar Math seer Vishwa Prasanna Teertha in Udupi lauded the government’s move.

He called Advani a representative of value-based politics who maintained the dignity of the offices he held.

Vishwa Prasanna Teertha said Advani had led the Ayodhya Ram temple movement in the early 1990s, which finally culminated in the temple coming up there, he added.

(Disclaimer: The headline, subheads, and intro of this report along with the photos may have been reworked by South First. The rest of the content is from a syndicated feed, and has been edited for style.)

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