Atal Bihari Vajpayee's 101st Birth Anniversary: President Murmu and PM Modi Pay Tribute

Vajpayee's leadership during critical moments such as the Kargil War and India's emergence as a nuclear power remain defining chapters in his public life. File Photo.

On Thursday, President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his memorial, Sadaiv Atal, in New Delhi. The event marked Vajpayee’s 101st birth anniversary, observed across the nation as Good Governance Day in recognition of his lifelong commitment to public service and democratic ideals.

Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union ministers including J.P. Nadda and Nirmala Sitharaman, and several Members of Parliament participated in the ceremony at Sadaiv Atal. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and BJP working president Nitin Nabin were also present, alongside other leaders who paid floral tribute to the veteran statesman.

Prime Minister Modi in his message reflected on Vajpayee’s legacy and said that his personality, work and leadership would continue to be a guiding light for India’s overall development. Modi emphasised that Vajpayee dedicated his life to good governance and nation-building and that he would always be remembered not only for his political contributions but also as a brilliant orator and spirited poet.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was born in Gwalior in 1924 and passed away in New Delhi on August 16, 2018. Over a distinguished political career spanning four decades, he served as India’s 13th Prime Minister for three terms between 1996 and 2004 and was widely respected for his role in advancing India’s economic growth, strengthening infrastructure, and bolstering national security.

Vajpayee’s leadership during critical moments such as the Kargil War and India’s emergence as a nuclear power remain defining chapters in his public life. He was elected nine times to the Lok Sabha and twice to the Rajya Sabha and was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan in 1992 and the Bharat Ratna in 2015 for his distinguished service to the nation.

The Bharatiya Janata Party marked the day with various events nationwide as chief ministers, Union ministers, and party leaders commemorating Vajpayee’s enduring legacy of inclusive governance and statesmanship.

Source: The Tribune