Not only an honour for me but also for ideals I served: LK Advani on Bharat Ratna

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Saturday that BJP leader LK Advani will be conferred with the prestigious Bharat Ratna, calling the party stalwart’s contributions to the development of India “monumental”

By: Express Web Desk

New Delhi | Updated: February 3, 2024 04:22 PM IST

3 min read

The Advani family was taken by surprise when PM Modi first tweeted the news and followed it up by a telephone call to his residence. (X/ narendramodi)

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stalwart LK Advani Saturday said the Bharat Ratna award was just not an honour for him as a person but also for the ideals and principles that he strove to serve throughout his life.

“With utmost humility and gratitude, I accept the Bharat Ratna that has been conferred on me today,” he said in a statement soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced his name for the country’s highest civilian honour.

Thanking President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bestowing the honour on him, Advani said, “Since joining the RSS, I sought reward only in dedicated and selfless service of my beloved country in whatever task life assigned to me. This (Bharat Ratna) is only an honour for me as a person but also for ideals and principles that I strove to serve. Sincere thanks to President Murmu and Prime Minister Modi for bestowing Bharat Ratna on me.”

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PM Modi announced on Saturday that BJP leader LK Advani will be conferred with the prestigious Bharat Ratna, calling the party stalwart’s contributions to the development of India “monumental”.

In a post shared on social media platform X, the Prime Minister wrote that he felt privileged to have interacted with and learnt from Advani. “The conferring of the Bharat Ratna on him is a very emotional moment for me,” PM Modi said. “Advani Ji’s decades-long service in public life has been marked by an unwavering commitment to transparency and integrity, setting an exemplary standard in political ethics. He has made unparalleled efforts towards furthering national unity and cultural resurgence.”

Calling Advani “one of the most respected statesmen of our times”, the PM added: “His is a life that started from working at the grassroots to serving the nation as our Deputy Prime Minister. He distinguished himself as our Home Minister and I&B Minister as well. His Parliamentary interventions have always been exemplary, full of rich insights.”

Also read | Long arc of Advani journey: Ayodhya Yatra to BJP architect, Vajpayee No. 2 to fade-out

The Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, is conferred in recognition of “exceptional service/performance of the highest order”. Instituted in 1954, the list of awardees includes Indira Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Lal Bahadur Shastri, and Vajpayee, among others.

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