President Droupadi Murmu presents Bharat Ratna to former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani at his residence
President Droupadi Murmu
presented Bharat Ratna to former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani at his
residence. The formal 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.
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 Sri 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.