President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Bharat Ratna, the nation’s highest civilian honour, upon Bharatiya Janata Party stalwart and former deputy prime minister L.K. Advani at his residence in New Delhi on Sunday.
The ceremony witnessed the presence of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Advani’s family members, a statement from Rashtrapati Bhavan said.
Advani, a revered figure in Indian politics, has dedicated over seven decades to serving the nation with unparalleled commitment and distinction, the Rashtrapati Bhavan noted. Born in Karachi in 1927, he migrated to India during the partition in 1947, and since then, he has tirelessly worked towards the vision of cultural nationalism, significantly impacting the socio-political landscape across the nation.
“When the Emergency put India’s democracy at risk, the indefatigable crusader in him helped guard it against authoritarian tendencies,” it said in the post on X and shared pictures of the ceremony.
“As a parliamentarian, his emphasis on dialogue enriched parliamentary traditions. Whether as Home Minister or as Deputy Prime Minister, he always prioritised national interest above all, earning him respect and admiration from across party lines. His long and tireless struggle for India’s cultural regeneration culminated in the reconstruction of Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya in 2024,” it said.
“Among the handful of post-Independence political leaders who succeeded in reshaping the national agenda and placing it on the path of development, his accomplishments provide the best articulation of the genius of India and its inclusive traditions,” it added.
Advani, aged 96, served as the deputy prime minister from June 2002 to May 2004 and as the Union Home Minister from October 1999 to May 2004. Additionally, he held the position of BJP president multiple times, leaving an indelible mark on the party’s leadership from 1986 to 1990, 1993 to 1998, and 2004 to 2005.