The country is observing the birth centenary of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Wednesday, December 25. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to India’s “beloved former Prime Minister” and said, “he stands tall as a statesman who continues to inspire countless people.”
PM Modi called Vajpayee “the architect of India’s transition into the 21st century,” and said that the government led by him “not only boosted economic growth but also brought distant regions closer.”
In his blog, remembering Vajpayee, PM Modi also said, “Whenever the choice came between ideology and power, he (Vajpayee) always chose the former. He was able to convince the nation that an alternative world view from the Congress was possible and such a world view could deliver.”
Read the full text of PM Modi’s tribute to Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 100th birth anniversary
Our nation will always be grateful to Atal Ji for being the architect of India’s transition into the 21st century. When he took oath as PM in 1998 our nation had passed through a period of political instability. In about 9 years we had seen 4 Lok Sabha elections. The people of India were getting impatient and also sceptical about governments being able to deliver. It was Atal Ji who turned this tide by providing stable and effective governance. Coming from humble roots, he realised the struggles of the common citizen and the transformative power of effective governance.
One can see the long-term impact of Atal Ji’s leadership in so many sectors around us. His era marked a gigantic leap in the world of Information Technology, telecom and communications. This was particularly important for a nation like ours, which is also blessed with a very dynamic Yuva Shakti. The NDA Government under Atal Ji made the first serious attempt to make technology accessible to the common citizens. At the same time, there was foresight in connecting India. Even today, most people recall the Golden Quadrilateral Project, which connected the length and breadth of India. Equally notable were the Vajpayee Government’s efforts to enhance local connectivity as well through initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. Similarly, his Government gave a push to metro connectivity by doing extensive work for the Delhi Metro, which stands out as a world-class infrastructure project. Thus, the Vajpayee Government not only boosted economic growth but also brought distant regions closer, fostering unity and integration.
Content retrieved from: https://www.firstpost.com/india/modi-pens-blog-on-vajpayees-birth-centenary-an-alternative-world-view-is-possible-13847405.html.
