LK Advani turns 94, PM Narendra Modi, top BJP leaders extend birthday greetings to BJP stalwart

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New Delhi: Former deputy prime minister and BJP's longest-serving president LK Advani turned 94 years old on Monday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and many other BJP leaders extended birthday greetings to and lauding his contributions to the country and the party.

"Birthday greetings to respected Advani Ji. Praying for his long and healthy life. The nation remains indebted to him for his numerous efforts towards empowering people and enhancing our cultural pride. He is also widely respected for his scholarly pursuits and rich intellect," PM Modi tweeted.

Birthday greetings to respected Advani Ji. Praying for his long and healthy life. The nation remains indebted to him for his numerous efforts towards empowering people and enhancing our cultural pride. He is also widely respected for his scholarly pursuits and rich intellect. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 8, 2021

BJP president J P Nadda praised the veteran leader for taking the party to the masses and playing a key role in the country's development. Wishing him a long and healthy life, he said the nonagenarian leader was an inspiration to crores of party workers.

भाजपा को जन-जन तक पहुंचाने और देश के विकास में अहम भूमिका निभाने वाले आदरणीय श्री लालकृष्ण आडवाणी जी को जन्मदिन की बहुत-बहुत बधाई।आडवाणी जी पार्टी के करोड़ों कार्यकर्ताओं के प्रेरणास्रोत हैं। मैं ईश्वर से आपकी दीर्घ आयु और स्वस्थ जीवन की प्रार्थना करता हूं। pic.twitter.com/9Di7saimVl — Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) November 8, 2021

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed Advani as an inspiration and guide, and said he is counted among those most respected leaders whose scholarship, foresight and intellect are acknowledged by everyone.

हम सबके प्रेरणास्रोत एवं मार्गदर्शक, श्रद्धेय लालकृष्ण आडवाणी जी को उनके जन्मदिवस की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएँ। वे भारत के उन सबसे सम्मानित नेताओं में गिने जाते हैं, जिनकी विद्वता, दूरदर्शिता, बौद्धिक क्षमता और राजनय का लोहा सभी मानते हैं। ईश्वर उन्हें स्वस्थ रखे एवं दीर्घायु करे। — Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) November 8, 2021

Delhi CM and AAP national convenor also took to Twitter to extend birthday greetings to the senior BJP leader. 

Birthday greetings to Shri LK Advani Ji. Praying for his long and healthy life. — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 8, 2021

RSS mouthpiece Organiser Weekly also wished LK Advani on his 94th birthday.

Birthday wishes to Former Dy- Prime Minister, organiser par-excellence & former editor of Organiser Weekly Lal Krishna Advani Ji. @_LKAdvani #LalKrishnaAdvani #HappyBirthday pic.twitter.com/ZNmF32BgMa — Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) November 8, 2021

The principal architect of the BJP's rise as a major national political party as he tied its fortunes with the Ram Janmabhoomi movement in the late 80s, Advani crafted and shaped the Hindutva politics, and spearheaded the party and its forerunner Jana Sangh for decades along with former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Born in Karachi in the undivided India, he joined the RSS and then the Jana Sangh since the latter's foundation.