Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Saturday that Lal Krishna Advani, a veteran leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), will be awarded the ‘Bharat Ratna’, the highest civilian award in India.
Expressing his joy over the decision, PM Modi stated, “I am very happy to share that LK Advani will be conferred the Bharat Ratna. I also spoke to him and congratulated him on being conferred this honour.”
Advani, who is considered ‘one of the most respected statesmen’ of our times, has made monumental contributions to the development of India. His political journey, which began from working at the grassroots level, saw him serving the nation as the Deputy Prime Minister. He also distinguished himself as the Home Minister and the Information and Broadcasting Minister. His interventions in Parliament have always been exemplary and full of rich insights.
Born on November 8, 1927, Advani has had a long and illustrious political career. He served as the president of the BJP for the longest period since its inception in 1980. His parliamentary career, spanning nearly three decades, saw him serving first as the Home Minister and later as the Deputy Prime Minister in the cabinet of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.