Bharat Ratna Conferred: Murli Manohar Joshi Extends Congratulations to LK Advani in Heartfelt Meeting

In a warm meeting at Lal Krishna Advani's residence in Delhi, Bharatiya Janata Party veteran Murli Manohar Joshi expressed his joy and congratulated Advani for being honored with the prestigious Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award. The meeting, held on Saturday evening, marked a moment of recognition for Advani's significant contributions to Indian politics.

Joshi, who visited Advani to extend his congratulations, shared his sentiments, stating, "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," as reported by news agency ANI.

#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 announced Advani's selection for the Bharat Ratna on Saturday, hailing the BJP veteran's persistent efforts to strengthen democracy and free it from the dominance of a single party and family. This marks the seventh Bharat Ratna conferred by the Modi government since 2014, with previous recipients including Karpoori Thakur, Madan Mohan Malviya, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Pranab Mukherjee, Bhupen Hazarika, and Nanaji Deshmukh.

Advani, aged 96, expressed his humility and gratitude in accepting the award. In a statement, he acknowledged the honor not only for himself but also for the ideals and principles he has dedicated his life to.

Leaders across party lines shared their reactions to the announcement. BJP national president JP Nadda expressed delight, thanking Modi for the decision, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised Advani's contributions to the nation's strength and democracy. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath congratulated Advani, hailing him as an inspiration, and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal extended his wishes for Advani's long life.

Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar acknowledged Advani's valuable contribution to the country's development, emphasizing the significance of the Bharat Ratna honor.

The recognition of Lal Krishna Advani with the Bharat Ratna stands as a testament to his enduring impact on Indian politics, and the heartfelt congratulations from leaders across the spectrum reflect the widespread acknowledgment of his remarkable legacy.