PM Modi praises ex-PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s political brilliance in emotional tribute on 100th birth anniversary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid an emotional tribute to former PM and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) doyen Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his birth centenary. PM Modi wrote that the “nation will always be grateful to Atal Ji for being the architect of India’s transition into the 21st century.” 

In a long article published on Narendra Modi website, he expressed the nation’s gratitude towards the former prime minister whose leadership led the country forward. PM Modi mentioned Vajpayee’s stable and effective governance that transformed the lives of common citizens. 

Praising his honest leadership, Modi said, "He was also not one to cling on to power through opportunistic means." 

He went on to mention Vajpayee’s contribution in every sector like technology, social sector, and more. In the field of Information Technology, telecom and communications, Modi said, “Atal Ji made the first serious attempt to make technology accessible to the common citizens.” He connected India in length and breadth through Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and metro project. “Most people recall the Golden Quadrilateral Project”, he said. Praising Vajpayee’s work for fostering unity and integrity, Modi said, “the Vajpayee Government not only boosted economic growth but also brought distant regions closer, fostering unity and integration.” 

Taking pride in Vajpayee’s dream of building India, Modi said social initiatives like the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan showed “modern education is accessible to people across the nation particularly for the poor and marginalised sections.” 

Continuing his praise for the BJP stalwart, Modi said that “his Parliamentary brilliance was seen throughout his political journey.”   

Taking pride in Pokhran tests Modi said that Operation Shakti “exemplified the prowess of India’s scientific community.” 

PM Narendra Modi was all-praise in his article for the former prime minister’s poetry and aesthetic thought as he called his persona “magnetic”, “his life was enriched by his love for literature and expression. A prolific writer and poet, he used words to inspire, provoke thought, and even offer solace. His poetry, often reflective of his inner struggles and hopes for the nation, continues to resonate with people across age groups.” 

Calling working in Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government as “privilege”, Modi said that the BJP learned so much from him. “For so many Bharatiya Janata Party Karyakartas like me, it is our privilege that we were able to learn and interact with a person like Atal Ji. His contribution to the BJP was foundational.” 

Vajpayee formed government thrice in the 90’s and 2000’s. First for a term of 13 days in 1996, then for a period of 13 months from 1998 to 1999, followed by a full term from 1999 to 2004.