President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several union ministers on Wednesday, 25 December, paid tributes to Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 95th birth anniversary.
A prayer meeting was held at Sadaiv Atal – the memorial to Atal Bihari Vajpayee – to mark the birth anniversary of the former prime minister.
BJP veteran L K Advani, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and members of Vajpayee’s family were amongst those who paid tributes to the BJP leader amid the playing of hymns and devotional music.
The memorial was dedicated to the nation in December last year. Vajpayee was born in 1924 in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. He died on 16 August 2018 at AIIMS in Delhi.
“Tributes to Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who is etched in the hearts of the countrymen, on his birth anniversary,” Modi wrote on Twitter.
He also posted a brief video on Vajpayee, recalling his contributions to the country.
He also paid tributes to Madan Mohan Malaviya on his 158th birth anniversary.
“A humble tribute to Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Ji on his birth anniversary, who dedicated his life to the service of Mother India,” Modi wrote on Twitter.
He said Malaviya played an important role in the freedom movement besides making an invaluable contribution to the field of education.
“His scholarship and ideals will always inspire the countrymen,” Modi said.
Later in the day, after unveiling a statue of Vajpayee at Lucknow’s Lok Bhawan, PM Modi said, “They (the vandals) should ask themselves was it right. Whatever was torched, was it not of their child's use? What has happened to those common people and policemen who got injured?”
He said he wanted to tell those who damaged public property “not to forget that rights and duties go hand in hand”.
He also laid the foundation stone for the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical University in the Uttar Pradesh capital.
Referring to Article 370, Modi said it was an "old disease" and it was resolved peacefully.
"How old a disease was Article 370. How difficult it appeared. But it was our responsibility as to how to face such difficult challenges. And, it was done easily. Everyone's 'dhaarna' (perception) was smashed (choor choor ho gaya)," he said.
The Ram Janmabhoomi issue was also resolved peacefully, the prime minister said.
On the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, Modi said giving citizenship to those who came to India from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to "save the dignity of their daughters", was another problem whose solution was found by 130 crore Indians.
"With this self-confidence, Hindustanis are entering a new decade. Whatever is left to be done, all Indians are trying to find a solution," he said.
However big the challenge may be, "we are here with a nature to challenge the challenge", he said.
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