Veteran member of the Bharatiya Janata Party Murli Manohar Joshi met senior colleague Lal Krishna Advani at his Delhi home on Saturday night to congratulate him on receiving India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna. According to news agency ANI, Murli Manohar Joshi stated that working with Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Nanaji Deshmukh, and LK Advani has been a great blessing for him.
“Deeply happy to see Lal Krishna Advani ji honoured with Bharat Ratna. I congratulate him. It is my good fortune that I got the opportunity to work with Bharat Ratna Atal Ji, Bharat Ratna Nanaji Deshmukh and Bharat Ratna Advani Ji for more than 60 years,” Murli Manohar Joshi, 90, said.
#WATCH | Veteran BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi met veteran BJP leader LK Advani at his residence in Delhi to congratulate the latter for being conferred with Bharat Ratna. pic.twitter.com/q7c4MwAoqb
— ANI (@ANI) February 3, 2024
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier on Saturday announced that 96-year-old BJP veteran LK Advani would receive the Bharat Ratna. Leaders of opposition parties also greeted Advani.
In a jab at the Congress, Modi countered that Advani had dedicated his life to releasing India’s democracy from the grip of a single-family and one party.
Since taking office in 2014, this is the seventh Bharat Ratna that the Modi administration has given out. Madan Mohan Malviya, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Pranab Mukherjee, Bhupen Hazarika, Nanaji Deshmukh, and Karpoori Thakur are also on the list.
Advani stated that being awarded the Bharat Ratna is a privilege not only for himself but also for the values and principles he worked so hard to uphold throughout his life.
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In a statement, the BJP stalwart said he accepts the ‘Bharat Ratna’ with utmost humility. “With utmost humility and gratitude, I accept the ‘Bharat Ratna’ that has been conferred on me today. It is not only an honour for me as a person, but also for the ideals and principles that I strove to serve throughout my life to the best of my ability,” Advani said in the statement.
How other leaders reacted
JP Nadda, the national president of the BJP, greeted Advani and expressed gratitude to Modi for the announcement. Party workers all around the nation are happy about the announcement, according to Nadda.
“Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modiji announced the conferring of the ‘Bharat Ratna’ on our senior and veteran leader, Lal Krishna Advaniji. The announcement instils a sense of delight in us,” ANI quoted Nadda as saying.
Rajnath Singh, the minister of defence, also thanked the prime minister for awarding Advani the Bharat Ratna. He stated that Advani’s parliamentary and administrative prowess has fortified the nation and democracy.
Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, congratulated Advani as well, saying that he was an inspiration to everyone.
Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi and convenor of the AAP, also wished Advani a long life.
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Sharad Pawar, the president of the Nationalist Congress Party, stated that Advani has significantly aided in the advancement of the nation.
“India’s former Deputy Prime Minister and senior leader, LK Advani, is delighted to be awarded Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian honour. He has made a valuable contribution to the development of the country. Heartiest congratulations,” Pawar posted on X.
