LK Advani thanks the Bharat Ratna award, saying, “I only looked for reward in…” The opposition and BJP responded.(3.2.2024)

LK Advani, a prominent member of the BJP, stated on Saturday that being awarded the Bharat Ratna is “not only an honour for me as a person but also for ideals and principles that I strove to serve.The head of the BJP also expressed gratitude to President Murmu and Prime Minister Modi for awarding him the Bharat Ratna.

Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement that LK Advani would receive the nation’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, he made his comments.

“I am very happy to share that Shri LK Advani Ji will be conferred the Bharat Ratna,” PM Modi announced in a post on X. In our conversation, I also congratulated him on receiving this honor.” According to him, Advani is “one of the most respected statesmen of our times” and has made a significant contribution to India’s progress.

“He began his career as a municipal employee and rose to the position of deputy prime minister in our nation. He established himself as our Minister of I&B as well as our Home Minister. The Prime Minister stated, “His parliamentary interventions have consistently been exemplary and full of rich insights.”

During his speech in Odisha on Saturday, Prime Minister Modi stated, ” LK Advani ji is a symbol of the fact that the nation never forgets those who spend their lives in the service of the nation…” “To LK Advani, Bharat Ratna is an honor to the nation’s ideology first,” he continued.

Reactions from senior BJP officials and allies:

Top BJP officials, union ministers, and the party’s supporters praised Advani’s honor, calling it “well deserved” and a moving tribute to a “national hero’s life” dedicated to serving the country.

“The decision to award Bharat Ratna to the revered Lal Krishna Advani ji,” stated Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, an inspiration to all of us and a senior leader of the country has brought great joy and happiness.” His integrity, dedication, and strength have made him a political hero.”

Anurag Thakur, the minister of information and broadcasting, sent the party veteran “sincere wishes” on receiving the highest civilian honor. According to him, it is a “poignant acknowledgement of a national hero’s life” that was dedicated to serving the country.

Nitish Kumar, the chief minister of Bihar, welcomed BJP veteran and former deputy prime minister LK Advani over the phone upon his announcement as the recipient of the Bharat Ratna.

“During the tenure of former PM, respected Atal Bihari Vajpayee, I also got an opportunity to work with him in the Union cabinet,” tweeted Kumar. He taught me a lot of things.

Chirag Paswan, the leader of the LJP (Ram Vilas), a party that supports the BJP in Bihar, said, “I extend my warmest congratulations and best wishes to respected Shri Lal Krishna Advani ji.” Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, many thanks and gratitude.”

The chief minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, declared, “We are extremely happy that our mentor and BJP stalwart, Sri Lal Krishna Advani ji, is going to receive the Bharat Ratna.” He continued, “He has been an inspiration for all of us.”

Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Mohan Yadav stated that this is a happy occasion. “We have observed him performing a variety of tasks. We express our gratitude to Modiji. We are aware of Advaniji’s life’s many phases. He fought for democracy during the Emergency,” Yadav declared.

The response of Opposition leaders

Manoj Jha, the leader of the RJD, also expressed his satisfaction with the news.”Advani’s life started with labor at the local level and ended with his position as our country’s Deputy Prime Minister. He made a name for himself not only as our communication and broadcasting minister but also as our home minister. PTI cited him as adding, “His parliamentary interventions have always been exemplary, full of rich insights.”

While thanking the seasoned BJP leader, Kalvakuntla Kavitha, an MLC for Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), made a subtle jab at the ruling party in the Central government.

Speaking to ANI on Saturday, she stated that the BJP’s mission has been fulfilled with the opening of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and the news of LK Advani receiving the nation’s highest civilian honor.

It’s fantastic that the Ram Temple is now operational and that Advani-ji will be awarded the Bharat Ratna. It signifies the accomplishment of the BJP’s goals.Kavitha stated to ANI on Saturday, “I would like to wish heartiest congratulations to Lal Krishna Advani on being picked for the country’s highest (civilian) honor.”

Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the Samajwadi Party, stated that LK Advani established himself in the political sphere. He told the journalists on Saturday, “We (Samajwadi Party) always had and will have a great respect for him.”

Chief Minister of Delhi and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal sent his greetings and best wishes to senior politician Lal Krishna Advani ji on the announcement of the Bharat Ratna award. I want God to grant me long life and good health.”
‘We are thrilled to give India’s highest civilian accolade,’ said Sharad Pawar, president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Bharat Ratna, to LK Advani, a former Deputy Prime Minister and senior leader.” He has significantly advanced the nation’s development. Sincere congrats.

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Chandrababu Naidu congratulated Advani and added, “Advani Ji has distinguished himself through exemplary hard work and devotion towards the nation.” He is a scholar and statesman who has done much good for the country.It has been an honor to collaborate with him. His genuine warmth and kind manner leave a lasting effect on everyone.”

Who is LK Advani?

Advani was born on November 8, 1927, in Karachi, Pakistan. Over the years, he held the position of President of the BJP for the longest duration from the party’s founding in 1980.