Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, August 16: On his death anniversary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to former Prime Minister and BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He said that the late leader was instrumental in advancing the country and bringing it into the twenty-first century in a wide range of sectors.
Prime Minister Modi said on X (formerly known as Twitter) that the country has benefited enormously from Vajpayee’s leadership.
“I join the 140 crore people of India in paying homage to the remarkable Atal Ji on his Punya Tithi. India benefitted greatly from his leadership. He played a pivotal role in boosting our nation’s progress and in taking it to the 21st century in a wide range of sectors,”
I join the 140 crore people of India in paying homage to the remarkable Atal Ji on his Punya Tithi. India benefitted greatly from his leadership. He played a pivotal role in boosting our nation's progress and in taking it to the 21st century in a wide range of sectors.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 16, 2023
Vajpayee, who was born in Gwalior in 1924, emerged as the first non-Congress prime minister to complete a full term in office and served as the BJP’s face for decades.
From May 16, 1996, to June 1, 1996, and again from March 19, 1998, until May 22, 2004, Vajpayee was Prime Minister of India. In the administration of Prime Minister Moraji Desai, he also served as India’s Minister of External Affairs from 1977 to 1979. He passed away on August 16, 2018, at the AIIMS Hospital in Delhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi after taking office in 2014 declared that December 25 would be observed as Good Governance Day every year in honour of the previous Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna recipient.