Undaunted by the heavy smog enveloping New Delhi, former deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani ushered in his ninth decade, turning 90 on Wednesday, first by breakfasting with visually challenged children and later by receiving greetings from leaders across the political spectrum, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his predecessor Manmohan Singh.
The celebration of the anti-black money day by the BJP and protests on the first anniversary of demonetisation kept many Union Ministers and BJP chief Amit Shah away from the celebrations, but not so some others.
At Mr. Advani’s Delhi residence, Union Ministers Rajnath Singh (the first to visit his residence), Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley and Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu, leaders whom Mr. Advani is credited to have groomed in the BJP wished him. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia also visited Mr. Advani to wish him.
Mr. Modi first wished Mr. Advani on Twitter and later visited him. “Advani Ji is a political stalwart, a leader who has distinguished himself through hard work and dedication towards our nation,” Prime Minister Modi tweeted.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi also wished Mr. Advani on Twitter saying, “Happy Birthday, Advani ji. Have a lovely day.”
Currently he is a part of the Margdarshak Mandal of seniors in the BJP.