Indian President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday conferred Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian honour, on veteran BJP leader and former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani at a ceremony held at his residence in New Delhi.
The ceremony was attended by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and the family members of Advani.
In a post on X, Rashtrapathi Bhavan said, “Shri Advani, a doyen of Indian politics, has served the nation with unwavering dedication and distinction for over seven decades.
“Born in Karachi in 1927, he migrated to India in 1947 against the backdrop of partition. With his vision of cultural nationalism, he toiled hard for decades, across the length and breadth of the country, and brought about a transformation in the socio-political landscape.
“When the Emergency put India’s democracy at risk, the indefatigable crusader in him helped guard it against authoritarian tendencies. 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.”
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.
The government also conferred Bharat Ratna posthumously on former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao and Chaudhary Charan Singh, former Bihar Chief Minister, and the Father of India’s Green Revolution Dr. M.S. Swaminathan.
Narendra Modi describes the moment when the Bharat Ratna was conferred on LK Advani as special
“It was very special to witness the conferring of the Bharat Ratna upon Shri LK Advani Ji. This honour is a recognition of his enduring contributions to our nation’s progress. His dedication to public service and his pivotal role in shaping modern India have left an indelible mark on our history. I am proud to have got the opportunity to work with him very closely over the last several decades,” Modi posted on X.