NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday organised special prayers and a homa at its central office here to mark the 100th birthday of senior leader and former deputy prime minister L K Advani.
BJP national president Nitin Nabin and several senior party leaders attended the programme and wished Advani good health and a long life.
In a social media post, Nabin greeted Advani and described the Bharat Ratna awardee as a former deputy prime minister and a guide for everyone in the party. He said Advani's contribution to expanding the organisation from the Bharatiya Jana Sangh to the BJP and taking nationalist ideology to every citizen would be remembered.
In a video message, Nabin said Advani played an important role in turning the Ram Janmabhoomi movement into a mass movement. He said Advani's commitment to his ideals gave the BJP a distinct identity and helped build a team of strong leaders within the party.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also greeted Advani on social media, calling him a symbol of service to the nation, one of the BJP's architects and a politician firm in his principles and ideology. Shah said Advani's journey from an ordinary family to becoming a founding member and national president of the BJP, and later deputy prime minister, exemplified public service and placing the nation first.
