Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid tributes to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 99th birth anniversary, saying he worked to speed up the country's development all his life.
Modi, along with President Droupadi Murmu, her predecessor Ram Nath Kovind, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and several ministers, including Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, Kiren Rijiju, Hardeep Singh Puri, and Arjun Ram Meghwal, paid tributes to the BJP stalwart at his memorial 'Sadaiv Atal' here.
Modi said on X, Vajpayee's dedication and spirit of service to the country will be a source of inspiration during the 'Amrit Kaal' -- the period until the centenary of India's Independence in 2047.
A great orator, Vajpayee was the popular face of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and then the Bharatiya Janata Party. His acceptability beyond ideological boundaries was a key reason behind the BJP drawing support from many parties as he ran a successful coalition government from 1999 to 2004.
Vajpayee was born on December 25, 1924, and died on August 16, 2018.
In another post on X in Hindi, the prime minister paid tributes to noted freedom fighter and educationist Madan Mohan Malaviya on his birth anniversary. "Malaviya's incomparable personality and work will inspire every generation in the country," the prime minister said.
Besides Modi, Shah also paid tributes to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his birth anniversary and said he made the world realise the power of emerging India through the nuclear tests and the Kargil War.
Shah also paid homage to noted educationist and social reformer Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya.
The Home Minister said Vajpayee served the society selflessly and the country will always remember his immense contributions. "I remember and salute former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his birth anniversary. Atal ji served the country and society selflessly and gave a new direction to nationalist politics in the country through the establishment of BJP," he wrote on X in Hindi.
On one hand, Vajpayee made the world realise the power of emerging India through the nuclear tests and the Kargil War, on the other hand, he implemented the vision of good governance in the country, Shah said.