Narendra Modi government has announced Bharat Ratna award for its veteran leader LK Advani. Lal Krishna Advani known as LK Advani has played a major divisive role in shaping the political landscape of this country forever. Probably, to this achievement, the rath man to be given Bharat Ratna award by this government. He reportedly said “not only an honour for me as a person but also for ideals and principles that I strove to serve.”
Mr Advani is the one who led Rath yatras in the 1990s to build a Ram temple on the place of Babri masjid. The Rath Yatras led by Advani ultimately led to the criminal destruction of the Babri masjid in Ayodhya. This event has triggered nationwide riots in which thousands of people have been killed. Advani’s entire political journey reeks of religious polarization, division and hatred.
At one point of time, Advani tried to change his image from being Hindutva hardliner to a moderate leader. For this, he visited Pakistan and praised Mohammad Ali Jinna for being a secular leader. But he faced severe criticism from RSS and BJP supporters.
Political Career
During the NDA government led by Vajpayee, he had served as the home minister and deputy Prime minister of the country. After the defeat of NDA in 2004 until the return of the BJP in 2014, he has been the opposition leader during the UPA government led by Manmohan Singh.
Reactions
Congress President Mallikarjun kharge welcomed the decision of the centre to confirm Bharat Ratna on LK Advani. But he also said that this exposes the reality of Prime minister Modi before the country of being ‘a brilliant event manager’. The same was said once upon a time by Advani about Modi.
Jay Ram Ramesh reacted saying that in 2002 Advani saved Modi when Vajpayee wanted him to resign from the Chief Ministerial position. Advani was the man who sent Arun Jetly to convey this plan of Vajpayee to Modi.
Almost every political party at large has accepted the decision and did not dare to question the conferment of such a prestigious award to a man known for ushering a new era of
religious polarization in this country. BRS leader K Kavitha though said that it marked the fulfilment of the BJP’s agenda. She was referring this in the context of the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya for which Advani organized communally charged Rath Yatras in the 1990s.
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AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi was the only one who addressed the elephant in the room and vehemently criticized the decision of the central Government saying that ” the Graves of the Indians who lost their lives in violence are nothing but stepping stones”. He shared a map conveying the number of people killed in various districts across India.
Well deserved #BharatRatna for LK Advani. The graves of Indians who lost their lives in violence are nothing but stepping stones. pic.twitter.com/UwtdENrvLf
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) February 3, 2024
Indeed, the aim of the entire political career of Advani was to build India as majoritarian country. It has been fulfilled under Prime minister Modi. But to his dismay, he has been sidelined both by Modi and the RSS.
The legacy of Advani is that he successfully implanted Hindu majoritarianism in Indian politics and society. His brand of politics has left an indelible mark on the ideological contours around secularism, nationalism and minority rights in India.
