New Delhi: Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement that Lal Krishna Advani, a veteran of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), will receive India's highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, Kalvakuntla Kavitha, a member of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), indirectly criticized the government while extending her congratulations to Advani.

During a media briefing on Saturday, Kavitha remarked that bestowing the country's top civilian award upon the BJP stalwart aligns with the party's agenda, especially after the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

"It's noteworthy that the Ram Temple has finally been realized, and now Advani-ji is being honored with the Bharat Ratna. This reflects the fulfillment of the BJP's agenda. I extend my warmest congratulations to Lal Krishna Advani for being chosen for this prestigious honor," stated Ms. Kavitha on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that senior BJP leader LK Advani would receive the Bharat Ratna, recognizing his significant contributions to India's progress.

"I am pleased to announce that Shri LK Advani Ji will be awarded the Bharat Ratna. I had the opportunity to speak with him and extend my congratulations on this achievement. As one of the most respected statesmen of our time, his contributions to India's development are immense. His journey, from grassroots activism to serving as our Deputy Prime Minister, exemplifies a life dedicated to public service. He has made outstanding contributions as our Home Minister and Minister of Information and Broadcasting. His parliamentary contributions have always been exemplary, marked by profound insights," posted PM Modi on X.

Born on November 8, 1927, in Karachi, now in Pakistan, Advani served as the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party for the longest tenure since its establishment in 1980. Concluding a parliamentary career spanning nearly three decades, he held positions as Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister under Atal Bihari Vajpayee's cabinet (1999-2004).

Advani is widely acknowledged for his intellect, principles, and unwavering commitment to India's strength and prosperity. As attested by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Advani has consistently upheld his nationalist beliefs while demonstrating political adaptability as per the demands of the situation.

Though Advani's celebration of India's independence in 1947 was overshadowed by the trauma of partition, he remained undeterred in his pursuit of a secular India. He continued his work as an RSS Pracharak in Rajasthan, aiming to foster national unity.

During the late 1980s and 1990s, Advani focused on building the BJP into a formidable national political force. His efforts culminated in significant electoral gains, with the party's seats in the Lok Sabha increasing from 2 in 1984 to 161 in 1996, marking a historic shift in Indian politics.

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