On the 100th birth anniversary of Former Prime Minister and Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led greetings, referring to him as the “architect of India’s transition into the 21st century that set stage for country’s economic surge”.
On Wednesday, PM Modi penned down his thoughts and wrote an article that was carried by several newspapers on this occasion.
Modi claimed that despite the Congress stooped to new lows by going to the extent of calling him a “traitor”, he never harbored resentment during his lengthy parliamentary term, which was spent primarily on the opposition benches.
In the piece, Modi stated, “He continues to inspire countless people and stands tall as a statesman.”
Modi also included photos of his interactions with Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the post.
Modi said it was a privilege for many Bharatiya Janata Party members like him to learn from and interact with a person like Vajpayee. Modi claimed Vajpayee always opted for the former whenever the choice came between ideology and power.
He stated, “He was able to convince the nation that an alternative world view from the Congress was possible and such a world view could deliver,” and urged everyone to recommit to completing his vision for India and achieving his aspirations.
‘Wonderful example of Vajpayee’s leadership’
In the article, PM Modi cited a “wonderful example of Vajpayee leadership” by recalling how, in the summer of 1998, immediately after Vajpayee’s government took office, India carried out the Pokhran nuclear tests, also referred to as “Operation Shakti,” on May 11.
Modi claimed that Atal Ji was unique and that any other leader would have given in.
PM Modi said in the article, “These tests exemplified the prowess of India’s scientific community. The world was stunned that India had done the tests and expressed their anger in no uncertain terms. Any ordinary leader would have buckled, but Atal Ji was made differently. And what happened? India stood firm and resolute with the government calling for another set of tests two days later, on 13th May! If the tests of the 11th showed scientific skill, the ones on 13th showed true leadership. It was a message to the world that gone were the days when India would buckle under threats or pressure. Despite facing international sanctions, the then NDA government of Vajpayee Ji stood firm, articulating India’s right to safeguard its sovereignty while simultaneously being the strongest proponent of world peace”.
‘Vajpayee was not one to cling on power…’
PM Modi added, “Atal Bihari Vajpayee was also not one to cling to power through opportunistic means”.
He wrote, “He preferred to resign in 1996 instead of following the path of horse-trading and dirty politics. In 1999, his Government was defeated by 1 vote. A lot of people told him to challenge the immoral politics happening then but he preferred to go by the rules. Eventually, he came back with another resounding mandate from the people”.
Atal Ji stands tall when it comes to his dedication to upholding our Constitution as well, PM Modi stated, adding that he was “deeply impacted by the martyrdom of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee.”
PM Modi wrote, “Years later, he was a pillar of the anti-Emergency movement. In the run-up to the 1977 elections after the Emergency, he agreed to merger of his own Party (Jan Sangh) into the Janata Party. I am sure it would have been a painful decision but for him, and the others, but safeguarding the Constitution was all that mattered”.
According to PM Modi, his time saw a massive advancement in the fields of communications, telecom, and information technology.
He remarked, “The NDA government under Atal ji made the first serious attempt to make technology accessible to citizens. At the same time, there was foresight in connecting India. Even today, most people recall the Golden Quadrilateral Project which connected the length and breadth of India”.
By performing a lot of work for the Delhi Metro, which stands out as a top-notch infrastructure project, he also mentioned programs like the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and the drive for Metro connectivity.
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