NEW DELHI, November 8 (Aalimi Nation) – The Bharatiya Janata Party marked the 100th birthday of veteran leader and former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani on Sunday with a puja and havan at its national headquarters in New Delhi, as the Prime Minister and senior ministers paid tribute to his role in building the party. The occasion coincided with Diwali.
Ceremony at party headquarters
Advani's daughter, Pratibha Advani, and BJP national president Nitin Nabin were among those present at the event, according to party accounts. After the puja and havan, a 20-minute video of key speeches and moments from Advani's life was screened. Senior leaders then spoke about his contributions and the major moments of his political career.
Prime Minister's tribute
Prime Minister Narendra Modi published an article on Advani's life and career and shared it on X. In it, he said ideological clarity and intellectual sharpness set Advani apart. He also praised Advani's ability to expose what he called pseudo-secularism, and said Advani and Atal Bihari Vajpayee worked together in a way that changed the course of Indian politics.
Modi recalled that Advani left Sindh as a young man during Partition in 1947 and rebuilt his life "without bitterness". The Prime Minister also credited Advani's leadership as BJP president with a sharp fall in the Congress party's strength in Parliament, from more than 400 seats to fewer than 200 by 1989. He paid tribute to Advani's wife, Kamla Advani, as a constant source of strength throughout his public life, and wrote that he prays Advani will remain in good health and continue to inspire people.
Other leaders
Nabin, writing on X, called Advani a guide for all. He credited him with expanding the organisation from the Jana Sangh to the BJP, spreading nationalist ideology and turning the Ram Janmabhoomi movement into a mass movement. He wrote that Advani's "unwavering commitment to the organisation" will inspire party workers.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah described Advani as "a living example of putting the nation first" and wished him good health. Shah also called him an architect of the BJP and a principled statesman.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Advani had set new standards of integrity, dedication and leadership during his public life. Goyal called him "an extraordinary example of loyalty to the nation, steadfastness in his convictions, and dedication to the organisation".
Role in the party's rise
Advani is among the founding figures of the BJP and served as Deputy Prime Minister in the Vajpayee government. His Ram Janmabhoomi campaign in the late 1980s and 1990s, including a nationwide rath yatra, is regarded by his supporters as a turning point that expanded the party's support base. He has been conferred the Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian honour.
Opposition reaction
No reactions from opposition parties to the centenary tributes had been reported. Advani's career, particularly the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, has been a subject of political debate for decades, and parties have taken differing positions on that period of Indian politics.
