LK Advani turns 87; PM Narendra Modi conveys birthday greetings

NEW DELHI: BJP patriarch L K Advani today turned 87 and received greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who described him as "one of the tallest personalities in public life" with "unparalleled intellect and insight".

Modi, who was in Varanasi since yesterday, drove down to Advani's residence on Prithviraj Road to personally wish the former Deputy Prime Minister on his return here.

Advani came out to receive Modi. Home Minister Rajnath Singh and some other BJP leaders were also present there at the time.

"Wishing Advani ji a very happy birthday. May he be blessed with long life & good health," Modi tweeted earlier.

?????? ?? ?? ???????? ?? ???? ??????? ???????????? Wishing Advani ji a very happy birthday. May he be blessed with long life & good health.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 8, 2014

"His unparalleled intellect & insight make Advani ji one of the tallest personalities in public life. All of us have learnt a lot from him," the Prime Minister said in another tweet.

Advani had been upset when Modi was named as BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate at the party's National Executive in Goa in May last year. In protest, he had quit from all the posts he held at the time, but withdrew the resignation the next day after being persuaded by senior party colleagues.

In another tweet, Modi also appreciated film star Kamal Haasan for joining Swachh Bharat campaign on his own birthday today, saying it is "A touching gesture & super effort!"