President Murmu, PM Modi pay floral tributes to Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary

NEW DELHI: President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday paid floral tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary at his memorial ‘Sadaiv Atal’ in the national capital.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid floral tributes to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary at ‘Sadaiv Atal’, the Samadhi (memorial) dedicated to the Bharat Ratna awardee and veteran leader.

In a post on X, PM Modi said Vajpayee’s commitment to India’s progress continues to inspire efforts to build a developed and self-reliant nation. “Remembering Atal Ji on his Punya Tithi. His dedication and spirit of service towards the all-round progress of India continue to inspire everyone in building a developed and self-reliant India,” the post read.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP national president J P Nadda, Rajya Sabha Deputy Speaker Harivansh, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and other senior leaders also paid tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary at ‘Sadaiv Atal’.

Former PM Vajpayee’s foster daughter, Namita Kaul Bhattacharya, also paid tribute to him. Union Ministers JP Nadda, Kiren Rijiju and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, along with JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha, also visited ‘Sadaiv Atal’ to pay their respects.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh remembered former prime minister’s lifelong efforts to build a strong and prosperous India, and also added that the nation will always remember his tremendous contribution.

In a post on X, Rajnath Singh wrote, “I pay homage to Atalji on his punyatithi. He worked all his life with the resolve of building a strong and prosperous India. The nation will always remember his tremendous contribution.”

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was born on December 25, 1924, in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, and was elected three times as the nation’s prime minister. Vajpayee was the face of the BJP for decades and was the first non-Congress prime minister to have served a full term in office.

Vajpayee served as the Prime Minister of India from May 16, 1996, to June 1, 1996, and again from March 19, 1998, to May 22, 2004. He also served as India’s External Affairs Minister in the cabinet of Prime Minister Moraji Desai from 1977 to 1979. He passed away at AIIMS Hospital in Delhi on August 16, 2018.

According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, the central Samadhi platform at ‘Sadaiv Atal’ comprises nine square black polished granite stone blocks, capped with a central ‘Diya’. The number nine represents Navarasas, Navaratras and Navagrahas. The memorial is enclosed by nine bas-relief walls with inscriptions of Vajpayee’s prose and poetry, which can be read while taking a “pradakshina” (circular walk).

The initiative to develop the memorial was taken up by the Atal Smriti Nyas Society, which was formed by eminent persons. Stones from various parts of the country were used in its construction, symbolising “unity in diversity”. The project was completed by the CPWD, with the entire cost borne by the Atal Smriti Nyas Society, the Ministry added. (ANI)