Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday paid homage to former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary.
“On the death anniversary of former Prime Minister and the founder of BJP, Bharat Ratna, the revered Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, I pay my homage to him. Atal ji was a patriot politician of such caliber who dedicated every moment of his life to the service of the nation,” said Amit Shah on X.
“On one hand, he made the entire world aware of India’s strength through nuclear tests and the Kargil War, while on the other hand, his value-based politics brought the vision of Antyodaya and good governance to the ground for the first time. Atal ji’s towering personality and leadership will continue to inspire every BJP worker towards nation-building forever,” he added.
Vajpayee, born on December 25, 1924, in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, had a parliamentary career spanning more than four decades. He became a Member of Parliament in 1957 and represented both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha during his long political career.
He served as Prime Minister for a brief term from May 16 to May 31, 1996, and later from March 19, 1998, to May 13, 2004. Following the 1999 parliamentary election, he became the first person since Jawaharlal Nehru to serve as Prime Minister through three successive Lok Sabha terms.
Vajpayee’s tenure is remembered for the Pokhran nuclear tests, major infrastructure initiatives, including the Golden Quadrilateral and national highway development, and economic policies that laid the foundation for a prolonged period of economic growth.
His political legacy and emphasis on democratic values continue to be recalled across the country.
(with inputs from IANS)
