Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao on Saturday heaped praise on former deputy Prime Minister and veteran BJP leader lK Advani, saying that the latter remained the staunchest champion of democracy and liberty who steadfastly guarded dignity and decency in public life.
Speaking at a function organised to Advani on the latter being conferred the Padma Vibhushan award earlier this year, the Governor said: “Advaniji has steadfastly guarded dignity and decency in public life. He remains the staunchest champion of democracy and liberty. He has remained friendly with one and all”.
Recalling Advani’s inspiring speech that prompted Maharashtra and Karnataka celebrate September 17 as liberation Day, Rao said, “It was on September 17, 1998, we had organized the Hyderabad liberation Day in presence of Advaniji to mark the 50th anniversary of liberation of Hyderabad State. The state, which had remained an Independent entity under the Nizam’s rule, became free, on September 17, 1948, after an Army action, under Operation Polo, carried out at the behest of then deputy Prime Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel”.
“It was at this function that Advaniji had demanded that Government celebrate the historic occasion of 17 September as the liberation Day in a befitting manner. He also demanded that the events leading to the liberation of the region should become part of the textbook of school students. Inspired by the speech of Advaniji, Maharashtra and Karnataka started celebrating September 17 as liberation Day. In Marathwada, the day is celebrated as ‘Marathwada Mukti Din’.
“The event has created a feeling of pride among the people of the entire Marathwada region. It was only because of Advaniji that we are celebrating the historic day. Until Advani Ji’s appeal, nobody thought of celebrating the historic day. So people of Marathwada can never forget Advaniji,” he said.
“like this, Advaniji has been gifted with a rare vision to identify and highlight such causes which created a feeling of pride among the people,” Rao said.
The felicitation of Advani and a few selected Sindhi personalities was organised by the Priydarshni Academy at K C College Auditorium in south Mumbai.
Replying to the felicitation, Advani said the love and affection he had received in life from the people of the country and fellow parliamentarian was his greatest asset in life.
Advani’s daughter Pratibha Advani, founder of Finolex Group Pralhad Chhabria, CMD of the Blue Cross laboratores Nihchal Israni (in his absence, the award was received by his nephew Deepak) and Suman Ramesh Tulsiani were felicitated for their contribution in various areas on the occasion. Chairman Emeritus Nanik Rupani spoke on the occasion.