Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee life was dedicated for the people of the country. Addressing an all-party prayer meeting organised in the memory of former Prime Minister at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi this evening, Mr Modi said, in his youth itself Vajpayee Ji decided that he wants to serve his fellow countrymen.
He said, Atalji entered politics when only one party held sway over the political discourse. Mr Modi said, he spent several years in Opposition but never compromised on his ideology.
The Prime Minister said, Atal Bihari Vajpayee distinguished himself as a Parliamentarian and was proud of the Parliamentary traditions. He said, the efforts of the former Prime Minister ensured India to become a nuclear power and he attributed the tests of 11th May 1998 to the brilliance of the scientists. Mr Modi said, two days later, India tested again and showed what a strong political leadership can do.
The Prime Minister said, like his name, he never buckled under pressure. He said, when some were cornering India on the Kashmir issue, it was Vajpayee Ji who changed the narrative. The Prime Minister said, due to Vajpayee ji, terrorism became an important issue at the world stage.
BJP President Amit Shah, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Senior BJP Leader L K Advani, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, Farooq Abdullah of National Conference, Satish Chandra Mishra of Bahujan Samaj Party, D Raja of CPI, Mehbooba Mufti of PDP, Tariq Anwar of NCP and Several Union Ministers including Rajnath Singh are present. Family members of the departed leader, spirituals leaders are also present at the meeting.
Another such meeting will be organised in Lucknow on August 23. The Lucknow prayer meeting will be attended by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and Vajpayee’s relatives among others.
One of the most charismatic leaders of independent India, Vajpayee passed away in New Delhi on Thursday at the age of 93. He was cremated with full State honours at the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal in the national capital on Friday. His ashes were immersed in the Ganga river at Haridwar in Uttarakhand yesterday.
