February 03, 2024 – Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, will be conferred on LK Advani
As the nation continues to celebrate the consecration of the Ram temple in India, the government on Saturday announced the award of Bharat Ratna to senior BJP leader and prominent figure of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement Lal Krishna Advani. He will be the 50th person to receive the highest civilian award since it was first implemented, and the seventh under the Modi government.
“The President has decided to award the Bharat Ratna to Shri Lal Krishna Advani,” stated a press release from the President’s House. Last month, the government also announced the Bharat Ratna for the late Karpoori Thakur, a socialist icon and former Chief Minister of Bihar.
Expressing joy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared, “I am delighted to announce that Shri LK Advani Ji will be honored with the Bharat Ratna. I spoke to him and conveyed my congratulations on this well-deserved recognition. As one of the most respected statesmen of our times, his significant contributions to India’s development are remarkable.”
Modi further highlighted Advani’s journey, starting from grassroots work to serving as Deputy Prime Minister, Home Minister, and I&B Minister. He praised Advani’s exemplary parliamentary interventions, describing them as insightful and valuable.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated in Odisha that awarding the Bharat Ratna to Advani is a recognition of the ‘nation first’ ideology and a tribute to the millions of BJP workers and leaders nationwide. He emphasized that it acknowledges the party’s principles and the struggles of its workers, highlighting the transformation from a two-MP party to the world’s largest.
Advani, 96, expressed in a statement that the Bharat Ratna is not just an honor for him but also for the ideals and principles he dedicated his life to. Since joining the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh at 14, he focused on selfless service to the country. His political journey, especially as BJP Chief during the Mandir pledge in 1989 and the ‘Rath Yatra’ in 1990, reshaped Indian politics. The BJP’s seat tally surged from two to 86, marking a significant shift in the 1996 elections.
Born in Karachi in 1927, Advani served as the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party for an extended period and held key positions in the government, including Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. Despite experiencing the trauma of India’s partition, he remained committed to creating a more secular India, leading him to continue his work as an RSS Pracharak in Rajasthan.
