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New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were among the dignitaries who paid rich tribute to former prime minister and BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 96th birth anniversary.
President Kovind paid homage to Vajpayee at 'Sadaiv Atal', a memorial to the former prime minister, here, the Rashtrapati Bhavan stated in a tweet.
President Kovind paid homage to Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former Prime Minister of India, on his birth anniversary at his samadhi ‘Sadaiv Atal' in New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/Wpyo1sG1p2
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) December 25, 2020
Besides Kovind and Modi, top Union ministers also attended a prayer meeting at the memorial and paid homage to the first prime minister from the saffron party.
Vajpayee's visionary leadership saw the country's development reach unprecedented heights, Modi said in a tweet. "His efforts for making a strong and prosperous India will be remembered forever," he said.
पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री आदरणीय अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी जी को उनकी जन्म-जयंती पर शत-शत नमन। अपने दूरदर्शी नेतृत्व में उन्होंने देश को विकास की अभूतपूर्व ऊंचाइयों पर पहुंचाया। एक सशक्त और समृद्ध भारत के निर्माण के लिए उनके प्रयासों को सदैव स्मरण किया जाएगा।
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 25, 2020
Naidu shared several poems penned by Vajpayee to remember him fondly and lauded him as a "great visionary" and the "man of masses ".
"Atal Ji was a leader par excellence who was respected across party lines. He was an exceptional orator, a distinguished scholar and a gifted poet, but above all, he was a large-hearted human being who cared deeply for the country and its welfare," he said.
"I have a vision of India - an India free of hunger and fear, an India free of illiteracy and want."- #AtalBihariVajpayee
I pay my respectful tributes to the great visionary, the man of masses, former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji on his birth anniversary today. pic.twitter.com/Qqawg1UpAA
— Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) December 25, 2020
His inspirational life and values continue to inspire every Indian. His great service to the nation will always be remembered.#AtalBihariVajpayee
— Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) December 25, 2020
Home Minister Amit Shah said Vajpayee's ideas and dedication to the country's development will always inspire them to serve the country. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP president J P Nadda were among other key leaders who paid homage to him.
परम श्रद्धेय भारत रत्न अटल जी की जयंती पर सदैव अटल जाकर उन्हें पुष्पांजलि अर्पित की। अटल जी के विचार और देश की प्रगति के लिए उनका समर्पण हमें सदैव राष्ट्रसेवा के लिए शक्ति देते रहेंगे। pic.twitter.com/aZSjTnigiU
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) December 25, 2020
पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री एवं भारतीय राजनीति के शिखर पुरुष, श्रद्धेय अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी जी की जयंती पर मैं उन्हें स्मरण एवं नमन करता हूँ। उन्होंने भारत में विकास एवं सुशासन के नए मापदण्ड तय किए।अटलजी ने राजनीति में मर्यादाओं का पालन किया। यह देश उनके विचारों से सदैव प्रेरणा लेता रहेगा।
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) December 25, 2020
भारतीय राजनीति के शिखर पुरुष, ओजस्वी वक्ता एवं पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री, भारत रत्न श्रद्धेय अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी जी की जयंती पर उन्हें शत्-शत् नमन। देश के लिए समर्पित उनके जीवन से प्रेरणा लेकर उनकी जयंती को 'सुशासन दिवस' के रूप में मनाते हुए हम सभी जन-जन के कल्याण को प्रतिबद्ध हैं। pic.twitter.com/S91bYCf5x3
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) December 25, 2020
Ambitious road projects, pioneering works in infrastructure, education, economy, diplomatic relations or gaining the status of a nuclear state,Atal ji laid the foundations of a resurgent and self-reliant India. His teachings continue to guide & inspire us towards nation-building.
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) December 25, 2020
Humble tributes to great visionary, veteran @BJP4India leader, noted poet, writer, statesman, our former Prime Minister Bharat Ratna Shri #AtalBihariVajpayee Ji on his Jayanti, which is also celebrated as #SushasanDiwas.
His ideals & thoughts will continue to inspire generations. pic.twitter.com/JMl3IQaZym— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) December 25, 2020
Born in 1924, Vajpayee was a founder member of the Jana Sangh and then the BJP, a party which rose from the margins to rule India for the first time in 1990s with him being its main face. His tenure is credited with ushering in a fresh wave of liberalisation, boosting growth and infrastructure.
(With PTI Inputs)