PrintFriendly
Tributes pour in from all quarters
On the first Punyatithi of former Prime Minister Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, on 16 August, 2019 a prayer meeting was held at his memorial ‘Sadaiv Atal’ in New Delhi to mark the day. Remembering the tallest leader and founding President of Bharatiya Janata Party, the party paid rich tributes to Shri Atal ji at his memorial.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Home Minister and BJP National President Shri Amit Shah, BJP National Working President Shri JP Nadda, all senior leaders and office bearers of BJP and thousands of Karyakartas paid tributes to the beloved leader and founding President of BJP amid the playing of hymns and devotional music.
Hon’ble President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind and Vice- President Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu also paid tributes to Shri Vajpayee.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot was also among the Congress leaders who paid tributes to Vajpayee ji. Many Congress and opposition leaders also paid tribute to Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his first death anniversary.
Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s daughter Namita Kaul Bhattacharya and granddaughter Niharika were also present at his first Punyatithi function.
Paying his tribute the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s “thoughts and words live on. We will always cherish his contribution to India’s development”.
Union Minster of Home Affairs Shri Amit Shah said, “Atal Ji was not a person …an idea. Atal Ji was not a life …a Sanskar. My tributes to the beloved Bharat Ratna of the people respected Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji on his Punyatithi, who started the era of development and good governance in India with his politics based on values and ideals”.
BJP National Working President Shri JP Nadda after paying tributes at Sadaiv Atal said Atal Ji is source of inspiration for all of us and close to the heart of every Karyakarta in BJP. He will remain our inspiration.
Vice President of India Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu paid tribute to Vajpayeeji and called him the “tallest leader of our times”.
Union Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh paid tributes to Shri Vajpayee ji in Rajasthan. “In Pokhran, India emerged as a nuclear power. Despite all restraints, Atal ji gave permission for the nuclear test. India was listed among those countries which have nuclear power. I paid homage to Atal ji on his first death anniversary here”.
Shri Rajnath Singh said the nuclear test was conducted in May, 1998 in Pokhran during the Vajpayee government. After India acquired the nuclear power, it adopted a nuclear a doctrine which declared a ‘no first use’ (NFU) policy which means the country will not to use its nuclear weapon as a means of warfare unless attacked by an adversary using nuclear weapons.
Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan paid tribute to former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his first death anniversary at the inauguration of the newly-renamed Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences at the RML Hospital in New Delhi. The Centre-run Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital’s medical institute, which was known as Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), has been renamed as Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences on 16 August and will now offer undergraduate courses.
Tributes also poured in for on Atalji’s first Punyatithi from all quarters of the society.
Worth mentioning, Atalji left for heavenly abodes last year on August 16 at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences at the age of 93. His Samadhi, the ‘Sadaiv Atal’ memorial was dedicated to the nation in December 2018. The Central Samadhi Platform comprises nine square black polished granite stone blocks, capped with a ‘diya’ in the centre.
Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who led the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government from 1998-2004, was the first-ever non Congress leader to have become the nation’s Prime Minister. Shri Vajpayee served as Prime Minister thrice, briefly in 1996, and then for two terms between 1998 and 2004. His birthday, which falls on December 25, is celebrated as ‘Good Governance Day’.
Atal Ji brought systematic changes in the governance of the country through technology, innovation, and research to improve the lives of people. He brought the connectivity revolution and paved the way for development and growth.
Remembering Atal Ji on his Punya Tithi. His thoughts and words live on. We will always cherish his contribution to India’s development. Paid tributes to Atal Ji at Sadaiv Atal this morning.
— Narendra Modi
On the first Punyatithi of former Prime Minister and a popular leader, respected Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, went to ‘Sadaiv Atal’ memorial and paid my tribute to him.
— Amit Shah
“I join the nation in remembering former Prime Minister of India, ‘Bharat Ratna’, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji on his Punyatithi today. I offer my tributes to the tallest leader of our times. Atal Ji was a role model, an astute parliamentarian, an administrator par excellence, a visionary statesman, an erudite scholar, a gifted orator, a most beloved leader, above all, a great human being who believed in the core Indian values of harmony and synthesis.”
— M Venkaiah Naidu
Visited Pokhran today and paid homage to the former Prime Minister of India and one of the stalwarts of Independent India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji on his first death anniversary.
— Rajnath Singh
On first Punyatithi of the source of inspiration for all of us and close to the heart of every Karyakarta in Bharatiya Janata Party, the proponent of good governance and Bharat Ratna former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji, paid floral tributes at ‘Sadaiv Atal’ memorial and paid homage to Atal ji.
— Jagat Prakash Nadda