The country’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna Award, will be awarded to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) patriarch Lal Krishna Advani, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Saturday.
Taking to his X account, PM wrote, “I am very happy to share that Shri LK 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 stated that Advani, a former minister, a founding member of the BJP and the face of the Ramajanmabhoomi campaign, began working at the grassroots before becoming India’s deputy Prime Minister.
He added, “He distinguished himself as our Home Minister and I&B Minister as well. His Parliamentary interventions have always been exemplary, full of rich insights.”
Advani started his parliamentary stint in 1970 when he was elected to the Rajya Sabha. In 1989, he ran for Lok Sabha from New Delhi and defeated Mohini Giri.
In 1991, he ran in two constituencies: Gandhi Nagar in Gujarat and New Delhi, and won both. He then decided to represent Gandhi Nagar. He fought for the same seat in his last election in 2014,