Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to former Prime Minister and BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary and said India greatly benefitted from his leadership.
Modi said Vajpayee played a pivotal role in boosting India's progress and taking it to the 21st century in a wide range of sectors. "I join the 140 crore people of India in paying homage to the remarkable Atal Ji on his Punya Tithi," he said.
Vajpayee, the first BJP Prime Minister to rule India, is credited with popularising the party beyond its base and running a coalition government successfully for six years.
Modi also paid arrived at the 'Sadaiv Atal' memorial later and paid floral tribute to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary.
Besides Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari too paid floral tribute at 'Sadaiv Atal'. Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, who was also present at the 'Sadaiv Atal' memorial, said: "Several people came here to pay tributes. Our NDA colleagues also came here in large numbers because he was a towering personality," he told reporters.
Other NDA members who arrived at Sadaiv Atal include NCP's Praful Patel, Union Minister and Apna Dal (Soneylal) leader Anupriya Patel, HAM's Jitan Ram Manjhi, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.