Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran Lal Krishna Advani on Monday said that he was overwhelmed by the Padma Vibhushan award given to him for his service to the nation, but added that those in government should ensure that such awards are given in time.
“I would link it up with another award given to my senior leader Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence a couple of days back and make this entire occasion which is the consequence of awards announced on last Republic Day a very special honour for my political party. It happens every year no doubt, but this is the first time that my senior leader Vajpayee, another senior leader of my party Sardar Parkash Singh Badal and myself have been honoured by the nation in this manner. I was very happy, extremely happy,” Advani told ANI here.
“Though I did mention it to the country’s Vice-President when me met a little while ago that those who are in government should think of a way to ensure that such awards are given in time so that at least there is no posthumous award as happened today. And certainly it would be in the interest of everyone if those who are so honoured are also in the best of health,” he added.
Advani further said that he mentioned to Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari that he would have been very happy if Atal Bihari Vajpayee had been given this kind of honour around five to seven years back, adding that the former prime minister would have been honoured very befittingly.
The BJP veteran further said he was overwhelmed that he had been honoured with the Padma Vibhushan award.
“To take cognizance of whatever I have been able to do in public life that they have decided to give me the Padma Vibhushan, I feel overwhelmed by it,” he said.
Noted educationist and freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malviya was on Monday posthumously conferred the Bharat Ratna, country’s highest civilian award, by President Pranab Mukherjee.
A host of other personalities who were awarded today included, besides L. K. Advani, Punjab Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Parkash Singh Badal. They were honoured with the Padma awards by President Mukherjee at a glittering ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan here. (ANI)