Happy Birthday Atalji: Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee Celebrates 91st Birthday on Dec. 25:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday directed the country to greet the now sickly former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 91st birthday.
“Warm greetings and good wishes to Vajpayeeji on his birthday. May the Almighty bless Vajpayeeji with good health, happiness along with a long productive life,” the president said in a message.
Mr. Modi, who was visiting Afghanistan, offered birthday greetings “to our precious Atalji. We salute this great character who provided extraordinary leadership at an important time to India. Be it parliamentarian, as a party leader, minister, prime minister, Atalji recognized himself in every part. This really is his speciality.”
One of India’s most famous politicians, Mr. Vajpayee was prime minister three times — first in 1996 (May 16-31) and afterwards for two successive stints between March 19, 1998 and May 13, 2004.
In the latter two stints, he headed the National Democratic Alliance authorities led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), of which he’s the creator.
“Vajpayeeji has consistently been a source of inspiration to me. I pray for his joyful and healthy life,” Raman Singh said.
Mr. Chouhan said Mr. Vajpayee was a politician who’d not mind taking a two-wheeler or an autorickshaw to reach a site. “And wherever he went, he gained people’s trust.”
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said: “A very happy birthday to Vajpayee Sahib. A great human being and an awesome prime minister to work for.”
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh prayed for Vajpayee, who has been ailing for a long time for quick healing.
Ravishankar Prasad Principal ministers Piyush Goyal and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi greeted Vajpayee.
“I pray for his good health and long life,” said Goyal. Naqvi said he was a sign of development and good government.
He was elected for five times from Lucknow .
