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PM Modi, Prez Murmu pay floral tributes to Atal Bihari Vajpayee on 101st birth anniversary

Other leaders across party lines also extended their wishes to the Bharat Ratna awardee.

atal bihari vajpayeeCredited with pushing India's economic reforms to pave way for a period of high growth, Vajpayee died on August 16, 2018. (Express archive photo)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday extended his heartfelt salutations and paid floral tributes to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Thursday, marking his 101st birth anniversary.

Over a post on X, Modi wrote: “My heartfelt salutations to former Prime Minister Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, who resides in the hearts of the countrymen, on his birth anniversary. He dedicated his entire life to good governance and nation-building. He will always be remembered not only as an eloquent orator but also as a spirited poet.”

“His personality, works, and leadership will continue to serve as a guiding path for the all-round development of the country,” the current PM added.

Modi, along with President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C P Radhakrishnan, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and other Union Ministers arrived at Sadaiv Atal, the memorial of Vajpayee, in Delhi to pay floral tributes to the leader.

In Patna, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar too attended a programme dedicated to the leader at Patliputra Atal Park.

Vajpayee, a poet and statesman, was born on December 25, 1924 in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior and was chosen to lead the nation as the prime minister for over six years between 1998 and 2004.

Credited with pushing India’s economic reforms to pave way for a period of high growth, he died on August 16, 2018.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Ministers JP Nadda, Kiren Rijiju, Anurag Thakur, Arjun Ram Meghwal, and other parliamentarians also paid floral tribute to Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya and former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee on their birth anniversary.

Other leaders across party lines also extended their tributes to the Bharat Ratna awardee.

The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, shared a post on X, bowing to Vajpayee in reverence, and calling him a “source of wisdom and inspiration.”

“On his birth anniversary, I humbly bow in reverence to the Bharat Ratna, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji. Atal Ji’s words have always been a source of wisdom and inspiration.” Rijiju wrote. His post also carried Vajpayee’s interview to a media house prior to his death.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu also paid warm tributes to the former PM on his birth anniversary, calling him a statesman of “rare grace.”

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“Much like his name, Shri Vajpayee Ji was Atal in his resolve to serve the nation. A statesman of rare grace and a poet at heart, he was a visionary leader known for his integrity, humility, and his ability to build consensus across party lines. He strengthened India’s security, gave new direction to governance, and inspired generations with his words and actions. I had the good fortune of working with him and learning from his wisdom. He will always be remembered with deep respect and gratitude for his transformative contributions to our nation’s growth,” Naidu expressed over a post on X.

All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) also remembered and honoured the leader on the day, saying his “statesmanship and eloquence left an indelible mark on our nation.”

“May his commitment to unity and progress continue to guide our path!” the party posted on X.

Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor, too shared a post remembering Vajpayee. “Remembering Atal Bihari Vajpayee, 25 December 1924 – 16 August 2018. Om Shanti,” he wrote.

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