Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Second Death Anniversary: Modi, Shah Pay Tributes

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his second death anniversary on Sunday. Modi remembered Vajpayee’s “outstanding service” to the nation.

“Tributes to beloved Atal Ji on his Punya Tithi. India will always remember his outstanding service and efforts towards our nation’s progress,” the Prime Minister tweeted.

Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh too paid tributes to Vajpayee.

“Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji was the voice of patriotism and Indian culture. He was a dedicated politician as well as a skilled organiser who played an important role in the expansion of the BJP after laying its foundation and inspired millions of workers to serve the country,” Shah stated.

“The country saw good governance for the first time under Atal ji’s prime ministerial tenure. While on one hand he did developmental works like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, PM Gram Sadak Yojana, National Highway Development Project, on the other hand he laid the foundation of a strong India with Pokhran trial and the victory in Kargil.

“Today under the leadership Prime Minister @NarendraModi, the central government is on the path of good governance and poor welfare keeping Atalji’s ideas in mind and is committed to make India a superpower in the world,” he added.

“I bow to former Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji on his punyatithi. His tremendous contribution towards pubic life and India’s development will always be cherished. His vision for India will continue to inspire coming generations,” Rajnath Singh tweeted.

Vajpayee was India’s prime minister thrice – for a short spell in 1996, from 1998 to 1999 and then for a full five-year term between 1999 and 2004. Vajpayee was the first BJP leader to become India’s prime minister.

He was born on December 25, 1924, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh and died on August 16, 2018 at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi after a prolonged illness.