New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted former Prime Minister and BJP patriarch Atal Behari Vajpayee on his 90th birthday on Thursday.
Mr Modi visited the BJP patriarch at his residence in the morning to personally wish him and said there is no bigger tribute to him than celebrating it as “Good Governance Day”. BJP president Amit Shah and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also visited Mr Vajpayee’s residence to wish him.
BJP veteran L.K. Advani, who released a compilation of Mr Vajpayee’s selected poems, also wished the former Prime Minister.
A day ahead of his birthday, the names of Mr Vajpayee and freedom fighter and educationist Madan Mohan Malviya were announced by the Centre for the country’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna.
“Warm birthday wishes to our one and only Atalji,” Mr Modi said in his message. “There is no bigger tribute to Atalji than celebrating his birthday as ‘Good Governance Day’ and pledging to devote ourselves to this cause... Development and good governance are the only ways ahead. Together, let us make a positive impact in people’s lives and create a developed India,” the Prime Minister said.
He also paid tributes to Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya on his birth anniversary. “A man ahead of his time, he devoted himself to nationalism and education,” the Prime Minister said.
In his message, President Pranab Mukherjee said “Please accept my warm greetings and good wishes on your birthday. May the Almighty bless you with happiness and good health.”
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who shares his birthday with Mr Vajpayee, sent a bouquet of flowers to the former Prime Minister.
A senior official from the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi delivered the bouquet of flowers to the former Prime Minister at the latter’s Krishna Menon Marg residence in the national capital.
Many senior BJP leaders, including Union ministers Arun Jaitley, Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Ravi Shankar Prasad, among others, wished the party patriarch on his birthday.
“Warm birthday wishes to our beloved Atalji. Wishing him a very long and healthy life,” Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan tweeted.
His Rajasthan counterpart Vasundhara Raje also extended her wishes on Twitter: “Our inspiration & guide Wishing Shri Atal Behariji a very happy birthday. Prayers for his long life & good health.”
Hundreds of BJP workers and local leaders also thronged Mr Vajpayee’s residence to greet him on his birth anniversary.
