Leaders Pay Tribute to Atal Bihari Vajpayee on His 101st Birth Anniversary
Commemorating a Visionary Leader
On the occasion of Atal Bihari Vajpayee's 101st birthday, President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and several senior leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) gathered at the 'Sadaiv Atal' memorial in Delhi to pay their respects. Among those honoring the former Prime Minister were former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Minister J.P. Nadda, BJP's National Executive President Nitin Nabin, and Delhi's Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
In a heartfelt post, Prime Minister Modi described Vajpayee as a politician whose conduct, dignity, and unwavering commitment to national interests set a benchmark for Indian politics.
In another message, he emphasized that Vajpayee's life continues to inspire the nation, asserting that true leadership is defined not by position but by character. Citing a Sanskrit proverb, Modi highlighted that the actions of great leaders guide society, a principle clearly reflected in Vajpayee's public life.
Modi tweeted that the birthday of the esteemed Atal Ji serves as a unique opportunity for everyone to draw inspiration from his life. He noted that Vajpayee's conduct, dignity, ideological steadfastness, and commitment to prioritizing national interests represent an ideal standard for Indian politics. Through his life, Vajpayee demonstrated that excellence is established through character, which in turn guides society. Born on December 25, 1924, in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, Vajpayee served as Prime Minister three times.
Vajpayee was the face of the BJP for decades and was the first non-Congress Prime Minister to complete a full term. He served as Prime Minister from May 16, 1996, to June 1, 1996, and again from March 19, 1998, to May 22, 2004. Additionally, he held the position of India's Foreign Minister in Prime Minister Morarji Desai's cabinet from 1977 to 1979. He passed away on August 16, 2018, at AIIMS in Delhi.