President visits Advani to confer Bharat Ratna; Modi hails his contribution in shaping modern India
President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday conferred Bharat Ratna on BJP stalwart and former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani.
Veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani, a stalwart of Indian politics, will be conferred with the prestigious Bharat Ratna, the country’s biggest civilian honour, recognising his immense contributions to the nation.
Born on November 8, 1927, in Karachi, Advani’s political journey began as a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) where he imbibed the ideology that would shape his political career.
In 1951, Advani became a member of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, founded by Syama Prasad Mukherjee, after his fall out with then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
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In 1970, Advani became a member of the Rajya Sabha for the first time. He is the founding member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and became its president in 1986.
During his term as BJP president, Advani played a pivotal role in shaping the saffron party’s ideology.
It was Advani who changed the political fortunes of the BJP in late 80s as the saffron party went on to win 85 seats in the 9th Lok Sabha, a significant surge from just two seats in 1984.
One of the pivotal moments in his career was the Ram Rath Yatra in 1990, a campaign he led for the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was his “Sarathi” of his rath during the yatra.
Advani’s Rath Yatra worked wonders for the BJP as the saffron party surged from 85 to 120 in 1991 elections and to the single largest party in in 1996.
In 1996, Advani resigned as an MP over his alleged involvement in a Hawala scam, setting exemplary standard in political ethics. He was re-elected in 1998 after his name was cleared.
Advani served as the Deputy Prime Minister under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government. He was also the Minister of Home Affairs from 1998 to 2004 and during his tenure, he focused on a strong stance against terrorism, advocating for national security.
The Bharat Ratna award to Advani serves as a testament to his enduring impact on India’s political landscape and stands as a significant chapter in the country’s modern political history.
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