New Delhi: On Friday, August 16, President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar gathered at 'Sadaiv Atal' in Delhi to honor the memory of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the anniversary of his passing.

The memorial service was attended by several prominent figures, including Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP President JP Nadda, and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, alongside other Cabinet members. Vajpayee’s foster daughter, Namita Kaul Bhattacharya, also joined the gathering to offer floral tributes.

Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar was present at the memorial to pay his respects as well. The official BJP account on X (formerly Twitter) shared a tribute, stating, “We honor our respected Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, a source of inspiration, on his death anniversary.”

Union Minister Amit Shah praised Vajpayee’s legacy, highlighting his contributions to the country’s strategic and economic advancement. Shah noted, “Atal ji’s name will always be associated with political integrity, dedication to national interest, and principled leadership. He popularized BJP’s ideology and significantly strengthened India during his tenure as Prime Minister. I extend my heartfelt tributes to Bharat Ratna Atal ji on this solemn occasion.”

Born in Gwalior in 1924, Vajpayee was a key figure in Indian politics, serving as the Prime Minister from May 16 to June 1, 1996, and again from March 19, 1998, to May 22, 2004. He also held the position of India’s External Affairs Minister from 1977 to 1979 under Prime Minister Morarji Desai. Vajpayee passed away at AIIMS Hospital in Delhi on August 16, 2018.

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