President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were among the dignitaries who on Wednesday participated in a prayer ceremony organized at the memorial of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to pay tribute to him on his birth centenary.
Apart from Union ministers including Amit Shah and JP Nadda, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Union ministers JD(U)’s Lalan Singh and HAM(S)’s Jitam Ram Manjhi paid tribute to the BJP stalwart in ‘Sadaiva Atal’ Gave.
Apart from Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, members of Vajpayee’s adopted family were also present on the occasion.
Modi said in a post on X that the way Vajpayee preserved constitutional values and gave new direction and momentum to the country, his influence will always remain.
In his tribute, Prime Minister Modi praised Vajpayee for his vision in projects like the Golden Quadrilateral, his leadership during the nuclear tests and his commitment to strengthening Indian democracy and the Constitution.
Prime Minister Modi wrote, “Our nation will always be grateful to Atal ji for being the architect of India’s transformation in the 21st century. When he took oath as Prime Minister in 1998, our country was going through a period of political instability. We had seen four Lok Sabha elections. The people of India were becoming impatient and it was Atal ji who, coming from an ordinary background, turned the tide. citizen’s struggle and Realized the transformative power of effective governance.”
Praising Vajpayee, the Prime Minister wrote that his era marked a giant leap in the world of information technology, telecommunications and communications.
He wrote, “This was especially important for a nation like ours, which is also blessed with a highly dynamic youth force. The Atal ji-led NDA government made the first serious attempt to make technology accessible to the common citizen. Also, foresight was shown in connecting India. Even today, most people remember the Golden Quadrilateral project, which connected every corner of India through initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. efforts are equally Similarly, his government promoted metro connectivity by carrying out extensive work on the Delhi Metro, which has emerged as a world-class infrastructure project.”
“Thus, the Vajpayee government not only promoted economic growth but also brought far-flung areas closer and promoted unity and integration,” the Prime Minister wrote.
Prime Minister Modi also highlighted initiatives like ‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’, under which Atal Vajpayee envisioned building an India where modern education is accessible to people across the country, especially the poor and marginalized sections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi further underlined Vajpayee’s leadership by conducting nuclear tests by India in Pokhran.
The Prime Minister wrote, “His Government had just assumed office and on May 11, India conducted the Pokhran tests, known as Operation Shakti. These tests demonstrated the capability of India’s scientific community. The world was shocked by this.” It was surprising that India expressed its anger without any doubt, but Atal ji was different and the government remained firm and determined again on 13 May. to test from If the May 11 tests showed scientific prowess, the May 13 tests were a message to the world that the days when India would bow to threats or pressure are gone. Despite facing tough times, Vajpayee’s then NDA government stood firm and clarified India’s right to defend its sovereignty, as well as being the strongest supporter of world peace.”
He wrote, “Atal ji understood Indian democracy and the need to further strengthen it. Atal ji presided over the creation of the NDA, which redefined coalitions in Indian politics. He brought people together And made NDA a force for development, national progress and regional ambitions. His parliamentary talent was visible throughout his political journey, but his words shook the power of the then most powerful Congress party. enough to give As Prime Minister, he blunted opposition criticism with style and substance, but never had a trace of bitterness against anyone, even to the extent of calling him a traitor. You have even fallen!”
The Prime Minister further wrote that Atal Bihari Vajpayee was also not one to cling to power through opportunistic means. “He thought it better to resign in 1996 rather than following the path of horse-trading and dirty politics. In 1999, his government was defeated by one vote. Many people asked him to challenge the unethical politics being practiced at that time, but He liked to play by the rules.”
“Finally, he came back with another resounding mandate from the people,” Prime Minister Modi wrote.
Prime Minister Modi also recalled that after the Emergency, To protect the Constitution, Atal Bihari Vajpayee had agreed to merge his party Jan Sangh with the Janata Party.
He wrote, “Atal ji has always been at the forefront when it comes to protecting the Constitution. He was greatly influenced by the martyrdom of Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee. Years later, he was a pillar of the anti-Emergency movement. After the Emergency in 1977 Before the 2015 elections, he had agreed to merge his party (Jana Sangh) with the Janata Party. I am sure it would have been a painful decision for him and others, but protecting the Constitution was most important.”
He said, “It is also noteworthy how deeply Atal ji was embedded in Indian culture. After becoming the External Affairs Minister of India, he became the first Indian leader to speak in Hindi at the United Nations. This single gesture reflected India’s heritage and identity. But reflected his immense pride, which left an indelible mark on the global stage.”
Furthermore, Prime Minister Modi wrote that it was his good fortune that he got the opportunity to learn and interact with people like Vajpayee.
The Prime Minister wrote, “His contribution to the BJP was foundational. Leading an alternative narrative to the dominant Congress in those days reflects his greatness. Along with stalwarts like LK Advani ji and Dr Murli Manohar Joshi ji, he led the party in its formative years.” He nurtured it through challenges, failures and triumphs. Whenever there was a choice between ideology and power, he was always able to convince the country of an alternative world view to that of the Congress. is possible And such a world view can yield results.”
He wrote, “On his 100th birth anniversary, let us rededicate ourselves to realizing his ideals and fulfilling his vision for India. Let us strive to build an India based on good governance, unity and progress.” May his principles come true. Atal ji’s unwavering faith in the potential of our nation inspires us to set higher goals and work harder.”
