The union government has conferred India’s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna to veteran BJP leader and former union minister L.K. Advani. Announcing the award, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it was a very emotional moment for him personally.
“I am very happy to share that Shri L.K. Advani Ji will be conferred the Bharat Ratna. I also spoke to him and congratulated him on being conferred this honour. One of the most respected statesmen of our times, his contribution to the development of India is monumental,” Modi tweeted. He added, “His is a life that started from working at the grassroots to serving the nation as our Deputy Prime Minister. He distinguished himself as our Home Minister and I&B Minister as well. His Parliamentary interventions have always been exemplary, full of rich insights.”
The prime minister said that Advani made unparalleled efforts towards furthering national unity and cultural resurgence. “Advani Ji’s decades-long service in public life has been marked by an unwavering commitment to transparency and integrity, setting an exemplary standard in political ethics. He has made unparalleled efforts towards furthering national unity and cultural resurgence. The conferring of the Bharat Ratna on him is a very emotional moment for me,” Modi said.
Advani is being conferred with the award in the year Ayodhya Ram Mandir was realised. The BJP stalwart is credited with conducting the Rath Yatra campaign for the construction of the temple in the early 1990s.
