New Delhi: In response to Prime Minister Modi's announcement of conferring Bharat Ratna on Lal Krishna Advani, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh recounted two significant incidents involving Modi and Advani. Ramesh highlighted a pivotal moment from 2002 when Advani stood by Modi during his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat, facing potential removal by then-PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Fast-forwarding to 2014, Ramesh recalled Advani's description of Modi as a "brilliant event manager" during the Gandhinagar nomination filing on April 5, 2014.
Ramesh asserted that while Advani saved Modi in 2002, he exposed Modi's real character in 2014. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge welcomed the decision to award Bharat Ratna to Advani, while Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit criticized PM Modi and the BJP for remembering Advani belatedly. Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav suggested that Advani is being honored with Bharat Ratna to consolidate BJP's votes rather than out of genuine respect. He commented that the award is more about political consolidation than genuine reverence.
The announcement coincides with the recent inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, where Advani played a prominent role in the Ram Temple movement. In his statement, Advani expressed humility and gratitude for the Bharat Ratna, considering it an honor not just for himself but for the ideals and principles he dedicated his life to.
Last month, the government posthumously announced Bharat Ratna for former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur. Since 2014, when PM Modi assumed office, Bharat Ratna has been awarded to Nanaji Deshmukh, Bhupen Hazarika, Pranab Mukherjee, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Madan Mohan Malviya.
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