New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik were among the prominent personalities who paid rich tributes to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 96th birth anniversary on Friday.
The President paid homage to Vajpayee at ‘Sadaiv Atal’, a memorial of the late BJP leader, in New Delhi.
The Vice-President in a tweet said, “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.”
The Prime Minister in his tributes said, “Vajpayee’s visionary leadership saw the country’s development reach unprecedented heights. His efforts for making a strong and prosperous India will be remembered forever.”