Our Correspondent / New Delhi
President Ram Nath Kovind today unveiled the life size portrait of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the Central Hall of Parliament. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Ministers and leaders of various parties were present during the event.
Speaking on the occasion, President Ram Nath Kovind said, Atal Bihari Vajpayee will always be remembered among the great statesmen of India. He said, the former Prime Minister provided crucial leadership in challenging situations. Mr Kovind said, the 1998 nuclear test in Pokhran and the 1999 Kargil war are examples of his firm decisions taken in the interest of the nation. The President said, Atal Bihari Vajpayee contributed in establishing India as a peace-loving but powerful nation.
Thanking the members of the Committee on Installation of Potraits/Statues of National Leaders and Parliamentarians in Parliament House Complex for deciding to install the portrait of Atalji among the comity of great leaders in Central Hall, Mr Kovind said that Atalji would be remembered as the doyen of India’s politics. By accepting defeat and victory in a dignified and graceful manner, he had set a novel example and displayed patience amidst adverse situations. Mr Kovind recalled that Atalji provided decisive leadership during challenging times. Referring to the unprecedented speech of Atalji in Hindi at UN, the President said that Atalji lived to the meaning of his name (Atal). He was a school in public life and so many of his contemporaries have learnt from him.
Vice-President and Chairman, Rajya Sabha Mr M. Venkaiah Naidu said that Atalji was the tallest leader of contemporary India who left behind an impressive and lasting legacy that could inspire all of us to shape India that we dream of. He was a visionary leader who brought connectivity revolution in the country. For him, connectivity was the key enabler for economic development and national growth. VP further said that Atalji had an uncanny ability to connect with the people from all walks of life and political parties with different ideological moorings. He had virtually no enemy and was rightly called the Ajatshatru of Indian politics. He further said that Atalji was a staunch believer in democratic principles and will be remembered for providing good governance to the country.
In his address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, Atal Bihari Vajpayee had a long political career and a large part of it was spent in Opposition. He said, despite that, the former Prime Minister continued raising issues of public interest and never ever deviated from his ideology. Mr Modi said, there was power in Atal Ji’s speech and there was equal power in Atal Ji’s silence. He said, the communication skills of Atal Bihari Vajpayee were unparalleled and he had a great sense of humour. He said, now on, Atal Ji will be forever in the Parliament’s Central Hall, inspiring and blessing leaders across generations.