GOOD GOVERNANCE DAY
(The Quiver) Today the 97th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is celebrated as Good Governance Day. This day is always remembered as the symbol of peace, development and equality.
The great leader was born on December 25, 1924. Atal Bihari Vajpayee was born in Gwalior , the late former Prime Minister was an eloquent speaker and prolific writer, who is best known for his poems, most of which he authored in Hindi. Vajpayee, who was an active member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and later, the RSS-affiliated Jana Sangh, held several important portfolios throughout his political career, including the all-important minister of external affairs.
The Indian politician served for three terms as the prime minister of India, 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. Vajpayee was one of the co-founders and a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He was a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, a Hindu nationalist volunteer organisation.
In 1980, Vajpayee co-founded the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), along with close associate and, later, his deputy PM, Lal Krishna Advani. In 1996, he became the country’s first PM from the BJP.
His second term highlights two majors which were the Pokharan nuclear test in 1998, and the Kargil War in the following year. Vajpayee also took initiatives to improve diplomatic relations with Pakistan, by travelling to Lahore in bus to meet with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. After the 1999 Kargil War with Pakistan, he sought to restore relations through engagement with President Pervez Musharraf, inviting him to India for a summit at Agra
However, in 2004, the BJP suffered a defeat in that year’s general elections then Vajpayee retired from politics and public life. In 2015, he was awarded with the Bharat Ratna, India’s top civilian honour.
On August 16, 2018, the veteran politician breathed his last after being hospitalized that June in critical condition following a kidney infection. Vajpayee will always be remembered as the symbol of peace, development and equality by the people of India.
