Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted former Prime Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 100th birth anniversary, calling him the architect of India’s transition to the 21st century who set the stage for the country’s economic growth.
In an article published by several newspapers on the former prime minister’s 100th birthday on Wednesday, Modi shared his opinions on Vajpayee’s contributions to the country. Modi said Atal Bihari Vajpayee spent his long parliamentary tenure mostly at odds with the opposition but never harbored any trace of bitterness, even when the Congress stooped to new lows by going to the extent of calling him a “traitor.” “He stands tall as a statesman who continues to inspire countless people,” Modi wrote in the article.
According to Modi, being able to meet and learn from someone like Vajpayee is a privilege for many Bharatiya Janata Party members, including himself. Vajpayee always chose the former, Modi said, whenever the choice came between ideology and power. “He was able to convince the nation that an alternative worldview from the Congress was possible and such a worldview could deliver,” he said.
‘Wonderful example of Vajpayee’s leadership’
In the article, PM Modi cited a “wonderful example of Vajpayee leadership” during the summer of 1998, when Vajpayee’s government had just taken power, and India carried out the Pokhran nuclear tests, popularly referred to as “Operation Shakti,” on May 11.
Any other leader would have given up, according to Modi, but Atal Ji was created differently. “These tests exemplified the prowess of India’s scientific community. The world was stunned that India had done the tests and expressed their anger in no uncertain terms. Any ordinary leader would have buckled, but Atal Ji was made differently. And what happened? India stood firm and resolute, with the government calling for another set of tests two days later, on 13th May! If the tests of the 11th showed scientific skill, the ones on the 13th showed true leadership. It was a message to the world that gone were the days when India would buckle under threats or pressure. Despite facing international sanctions, the then NDA government of Vajpayee Ji stood firm, articulating India’s right to safeguard its sovereignty while simultaneously being the strongest proponent of world peace,” PM Modi said in the article.
‘Vajpayee was not one to cling to power.’
PM Modi further said Atal Bihari Vajpayee “was also not one to cling on to power through opportunistic means.” “He preferred to resign in 1996 instead of following the path of horse-trading and dirty politics. In 1999, his government was defeated by 1 vote. A lot of people told him to challenge the immoral politics happening then, but he preferred to go by the rules. Eventually, he came back with another resounding mandate from the people,” PM Modi wrote.
Atal Ji stands tall when it comes to his dedication to upholding our Constitution as well, PM Modi stated, adding that he was “deeply impacted by the martyrdom of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee.” “Years later, he was a pillar of the anti-Emergency movement. In the run-up to the 1977 elections after the Emergency, he agreed to the merger of his own party (Jan Sangh) into the Janata Party. I am sure it would have been a painful decision for him and the others, but safeguarding the Constitution was all that mattered,” PM Modi wrote.
According to PM Modi, his time saw a massive advancement in the fields of communications, telecom, and information technology. “The NDA government under Atal ji made the first serious attempt to make technology accessible to citizens. At the same time, there was foresight in connecting India. Even today, most people recall the Golden Quadrilateral Project, which connected the length and breadth of India,” he said.
Additionally, he cited initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and the push for metro connectivity by doing extensive work for the Delhi Metro, which stands out as a world-class infrastructure project.
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