‘Sadaiv Atal’: India greatly benefitted from Vajpayee’s leadership, PM Modi says | India News – Times of India
In tributes to the former prime minister, Modi said he played a pivotal role in boosting India’s progress and 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,” the PM said said.
The first-ever prime minister from the BJP, Vajpayee is credited with popularising the party beyond its base and running a coalition government successfully for six years, during which he pushed reforms and boosted infrastructure.
Vajpayee served as the PM from May 16, 1996, to June 1, 1996, and again from 19 March 1998 to 22 May 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 in 2018.
After coming to power in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in order to honour the former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna recipient, declared that December 25 would be celebrated as Good Governance Day every year, his birthday.
(With inputs from agencies)Watch ‘Played Pivotal Role’: PM Modi pays tribute to Atal Bihari Vajpayee on death anniversary
