Advani turns 88; greetings pour in from across political spectrum

Bharatiya Janata Party stalwart L K Advani turned 88 on Sunday and was greeted by a host of leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi who called him the party's "guide" and "best teacher" on the birthday which fell on a day when it was trounced in Bihar assembly polls.

President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Congress President Sonia Gandhi were among other personalities who greeted Advani.

Hailing him as a guide and an inspiration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi drove down to Advani's residence and offered him his greetings. BJP Chief Amit Shah also personally wished Advani and was present when Modi visited him.

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat also called up the former deputy prime minister and wished him.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, besides a host of other leaders also wished Advani on his birthday.

President Mukherjee, Vice President Ansari and Sonia Gandhi sent bouquets to Advani's residence along with letters greeting him.

"Warmest birthday greetings to our guide & inspiration, the respected Shri LK Advani ji. I wish Advani ji a long life filled with best health. Advani ji's contribution to the country is invaluable. He has always been respected as a person of immense knowledge & integrity," Modi tweeted while hailing the veteran leader.

"Personally, I have learnt so much from Advani ji. For Karyakartas like us, he is the best teacher and the epitome of selfless service," the prime minister also said.

Shah also wished Advani saying, "Best wishes on his birthday to respectable Advaniji who has been an inspiration to all us workers. I pray that may God grant him good health and a long life."

Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who also called on him personally said, "Greetings to our beloved leader Shri Lal Krishna Advaniji on his 89th birthday today. May God bless him with good health and long life."

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley after personally greeting Advani at his residence said, "I wish Sh. Lal Krishna Advani ji, my senior colleague, a veteran parliamentarian and BJP leader, a healthy and long life on his birthday today."

Among others who also personally called on him at his residence include Chhattisgarh Governor Balramdass Tandon, Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghuvar Das and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

So did Union ministers Ananth Kumar and Harshvardhan, besides BJP general secretary (Organisation) Ramlal.

BJP patriarch L K Advani was born on November 8, 1927 in Karachi in Pakistan.