NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited former deputy prime minister Lal Krishna Advani at his residence to greet him on his birthday, as the veteran BJP leader entered his 100th year.The Bharatiya Janata Party also organised a havan at its headquarters to mark the occasion. Senior party leaders, including BJP national president Nitin Nabin, attended the ceremony, held between 10am and 10.30am.PM Modi marked the occasion by writing an article on Advani’s contribution to Indian politics and the BJP. In a post on X, the prime minister said he had recalled Advani’s journey, from experiencing the Partition and rebuilding his life to strengthening the Jana Sangh, building the BJP and standing up to the Emergency.He also referred to Advani’s role in the Somnath-Ayodhya Rath Yatra and his time in government, besides highlighting his interests in reading, culture, cinema and writing.PM Modi also credited Advani’s leadership with expanding the BJP’s political presence.“Today, 8th November, is a landmark day. Respected L.K. Advani Ji enters his hundredth year. On this special occasion, my greetings to him. I’ve written an article in which I’ve highlighted his everlasting contribution to India,” he said.“I have recalled his journey, be it experiencing the horrors of Partition and rebuilding life from scratch, strengthening the Jana Sangh and building the BJP, standing up for democracy during the Emergency, leading the Somnath to Ayodhya Rath Yatra or serving the nation in government. Have also written about other aspects of Advani Ji – the voracious reader, his love for culture and cinema, a prolific writer and more,” he added.
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Nabin also extended birthday wishes to Advani, describing him as a guide to party workers and acknowledging his contribution to the organisation’s growth and the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.Born on November 8, 1927, in Karachi, in present-day Pakistan, Advani joined the RSS in 1942. He served as BJP president for three terms between 1986 and 2005 and was India’s deputy prime minister from 2002 to 2004. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2024.