A legendary political personality with national vision

Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was the tallest statesman, political leader, parliamentarian and multi-faceted personality after country's first PM Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. His sad demise has created a vacuum, which cannot be filled. In his more than six decades of political life, he has been flawless in all fields whether it is public or private. Former PM Atal Behari Vajpayee was lovingly called Atal Ji by his friends, fans and followers. He was a versatile genius and outstanding poet. His poetic talent was incomparable. He was the last leader of his generation, who treated his political opponents as rivals, but not as enemies. He was the first Indian representative at UNGA who spoke there first time in Hindi. He was opposition leader at that time when the then Prime Minister Narshimha Rao sent him to UN to represent India. It was his political astuteness, diplomatic skill, liberal outlook and forward looking qualities that attracted the attention of the ruling party despite the fact that the party he represented was ideologically opposite to it. He was an extraordinary orator and exponent of political conscious. He was a political genius and it was his qualities that despite major differences with the ruling Congress party, he always supported the government on foreign issues in the interest of the nation. Atalji was a true democrat and nationalist who always kept national interest uppermost. He was the member of Parliament for more than 5 decades. It was Atal Behari Vapayee about whom Pt. Nehru had said that one day he would become the Prime Minister of India. Nehru always praised Atal's oratorical talent. It would not be out of place to say that former PM Atalji was Pt. Nehru of the BJP. He was loved as much by his party workers as by others. His contribution to the nation building is immense. He was always positive. As Prime Minister of the nation, the Pradhan Mantri Sadak Yojna has been his brainchild. He became PM of the nation three times. Atalji never belittled the development made by the Congress government for the nation after India got Independence. He said that if he would say that there was no development work in the last 50 years, it would be undermining the nation. The nation has developed in the last 50 years, but a lot still to be done. He was a large-hearted politician. It is who said about Pakistan that we can change friends but we cannot change neighbour. With broad thinking, he started peace process with Pakistan despite its misadventure like Kargil war. Atal Behari Vajpayee was a true democrat and believed in the principle of live and let live. In Atal's demise, BJP has lost its jewel while nation has lost her great son. He was one of the ablest sons of Mother India. People, political leaders and workers irrespective of their affiliation, all loved him very much. We along with the entire nation condole his death.