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President, PM, other leaders greet Vajpayee

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Atal Bihari Vajpayee

New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday led the nation to greet the now ailing former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 91st birthday, wishing him a long life.

“Warm greetings and good wishes to Vajpayeeji on his birthday. May the Almighty bless Vajpayeeji with good health, happiness and a long fruitful life,” the president said in a message.

Mr. Modi, who was visiting Afghanistan, extended birthday greetings “to our beloved Atalji. We salute this great personality who provided exceptional leadership to India at a crucial time. Be it as a party leader, parliamentarian, minister, prime minister, Atalji distinguished himself in every role. This is his speciality.”

One of India’s most popular politicians, Mr. Vajpayee was prime minister three times — first in 1996 (May 16-31) and later for two consecutive stints between March 19, 1998 and May 13, 2004.

In the latter two stints, he headed the National Democratic Alliance governments led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), of which he is the founder.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also hailed the BJP veteran: “In a diverse country like ours, Vajpayee is a shining example of tolerance and inspiration for taking everyone along in the public life.”

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also saluted Mr. Vajpayee.

“Vajpayeeji has always been a source of inspiration to me. I pray for his happy and healthy life,” Raman Singh said.

Mr. Chouhan said Mr. Vajpayee was a politician who would not mind taking a two-wheeler or an autorickshaw to reach a venue. “And wherever he went, he won people’s confidence.”

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said: “A very happy birthday to Vajpayee Sahib. A great human being and an amazing prime minister to work for.”

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley described Vajpayee as “my guide and mentor” and said: “May God bless him with good health.”

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said Mr. Vajpayee — who was prime minister from 1998 to 2004, was an inspiration to him and was also one of India’s best leaders.

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh prayed for speedy recovery for Vajpayee, who has been ailing for years.

Central ministers Piyush Goyal, Ravishankar Prasad and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also greeted Vajpayee.

“I pray for his good health and long life,” said Goyal. Naqvi said he was a symbol of good governance and development.

Mr. Vajapyee was first elected to parliament in 1957, and was repeatedly elected to both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. He was elected from Lucknow for five times consecutively.

In 1951, Mr. Vajpayee helped to set up the Bharatiya Jana Sangh. He was the external affairs minister in 1977-79 when the Janata Party — of which the Jana Sangh was a constituent — ruled the country.

(IANS)

Vajpayee called Gujarat riots a ‘mistake’: ex-RAW chief A S Dulat

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Atal Bihari Vajpayee

New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had expressed his discontent over the 2002 Gujarat riots and called it “our mistake”, according to former RAW Chief A S Dulat.

Dulat said this while recalling a meeting with Vajpayee.

In an interview to Karan Thapar on his India Today TV programme telecast tonight, Dulat briefly mentioned about his last meeting with the former Prime Minister during which the BJP stalwart reflected about the 2002 Gujarat riots and said, “woh humare se galti hui hai(it was our mistake).”

Dulat, who headed the external spy agency Research and Analysis Wing till 2000 before he was appointed as Special Advisor in Vajpayee’s PMO on Kashmir issue, said Vajpayee always believed that the post-Godhra riots in 2002 was a “mistake” and the grief was “clearly visible” on his face.

The handling of the Gujarat riots when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief minister has been at the centre of a controversy.

(PTI)

Owaisi questions highest honours for Vajpayee, Advani

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Photo: ARIJIT SEN, DNA

Photo: ARIJIT SEN, DNA

Hyderabad: AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has kicked up a row by questioning the Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan awards being given to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and BJP patriarch L K Advani.

How can the country’s second highest civilian honour, Padma Vibhushan, be given to Advani who was facing criminal cases (in connection with the Babri masjid demolition), Owaisi said here at a book release function last night.

“The same L K Advani who spread destruction in the country with his ‘Rathyatra’…This could probably be the first instance of Padma Vibhushan being given to a person who is facing criminal cases,” the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen leader said.

As to Vajpayee, Owaisi alleged that the BJP stalwart had made some controversial comments on the Ayodhya issue, the videos of which were available on the YouTube.

“Have we forgotten December 5 (1992)? The same Atal Bihari Vajpayee who had said ‘we are going to level the ground’ (has been now given the Bharat Ratna),” he claimed.

(PTI)

Four reasons why Vajpayee doesn't deserve Bharat Ratna

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The award is given in recognition of exceptional service rendered without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex. Our former prime minister doesn’t fulfil this criteria.

vajpayee

by MD Hussain Rahmani, DailyO

President Pranab Mukherjee has announced India’s highest civilian awards for former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and freedom fighter and scholar Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya (posthumously). In the latter case, the present regime is extending its drive to appropriate historical icons.

As always, the first reactions came on Twitter. Noted historian Ramchandra Guha tweeted, “Giving Vajpayee a Bharat Ratna is fine, but one should not award it to people dead or long dead. Awarding Malaviya is a mistake. If Malaviya, why not give Tagore, Phule, Tilak, Gokhale, Vivekananda, Akbar, Shivaji, Guru Nanak, Kabir, Ashoka, Bharat Ratnas too?”

However, in my view, conferring the Bharat Ratna to Vajpayee raises more important questions. Here are four strong reasons of mine that weaken Vajpayee’s case for the prestigious award:

1. Bharat Ratna only for being a prime minister: While Bharat Ratna is an award for life-time service, it is only Vajpayee’s prime ministerial tenure that is being considered as exceptional and unblemished. Even as PM, some of his decisions were highly controversial. One was the famous surrender to the IC-814 hijackers and releasing dreaded terrorist Masood Azhar in return for the safety of the hostages. After the release, Azhar’s outfit, Jaish-e-Mohammed, carried out several attacks on our country, including the attack on Parliament in 2001.

2. Architect of Babri Masjid demolition: Listen to his speech that he delivered on December 5, 1992 in Ayodhya. He is openly calling for the demolition of the disputed structure. Was it without distinction of race or religion? What happened after the demolition will always haunt us as it severely dented India’s pluralist nature and ethos.

3. Even his role during India’s freedom struggle has always been in question: His controversial confessional statement before a magistrate during the Quit India Movement in 1942 indicted two freedom fighters. This aspect of his life was even raised by some of his detractors in Parliament after he became PM in 1998.

4. Vajpayee’s communal rant: Contrary to his image as a moderate statesman, he spewed venom against the Muslim community during his speech at the BJP conclave in Goa, barely a few months after the 2002 Gujarat riots. This is what he said: “Wherever Muslims live, they don’t like to live in co-existence with others; they don’t like to mingle with others; and instead of propagating their ideas in a peaceful manner, they want to spread their faith by resorting to terror and threats.”

Do these comments reflect someone who deserves a Bharat Ratna?

RTI query on Gujarat riots stonewalled again by PMO

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modi

New Delhi: The Prime Minister’s Office has suppressed the right to information by once again refusing to release details of the correspondence during the Gujarat riots between then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and then Chief Minister Narendra Modi, citing “third party objections.”

RTI activist Subhash Agarwal wrote to the PMO in December 2013 seeking complete copies of correspondence between Mr. Vajpayee and Mr. Modi between February 27, 2002, the day the Sabarmati Express was set on fire in Godhra, and April 30, 2002, by when the worst of the post-Godhra riots was over.

After first refusing to give the information, a decision overturned in appeal, the PMO replied to Mr. Agarwal in April 2014 that it was seeking consent of third parties.

(Agencies)

Discrimination against Dalits in giving Bharat Ratna: Mayawati

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"Kanshi Ram should have been honoured keeping in mind his sacrifices and contribution. Similarly, Jyotiba Phule, who belonged to a backward caste," Mayawati said.

“Kanshi Ram should have been honoured keeping in mind his sacrifices and contribution. Similarly, Jyotiba Phule, who belonged to a backward caste,” Mayawati said.

Lucknow: BSP supremo Mayawati today charged the NDA government with discriminating against Dalit icons like Kanshi Ram while awarding Bharat Ratna to Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Madan Mohan Malviya.

She also attacked the Narendra Modi government for adopting the “ordinance route” on key issues.

“Just like the previous Congress-led UPA government, the NDA government is adopting the same discriminatory attitude while honouring two persons of the same caste – Vajpayee and Malviya – with the Bharat Ratna recently,” she told a press conference here.

“Kanshi Ram should have been honoured keeping in mind his sacrifices and contribution. Similarly, Jyotiba Phule, who belonged to a backward caste, should have been given the award for his work in the field of education and efforts to establish equality in society,” she said.

“Many other deserving persons have been ignored,” she rued.

Taking exception to the Modi government adopting the ordinance route, Mayawati said this was not in keeping with the spirit of the Constitution.

Her remarks came against the backdrop of ordinance amending the Land Acquisition Act envisaging procuring land for industrial corridors, rural infrastructure, defence and housing, and insurance ordinance raising foreign investment limit in the sector to 49 per cent from 26 per cent, besides an ordinance to push coal auction.

On the land acquisition ordinance, she said it was against the interest of farmers. “I do not find it right…the amendments could have been brought in the next session of Parliament.”

(PTI)

Modi wishes Nawaz Sharif, visits Vajpayee and pays floral tribute to Malaviya on their birthdays

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Photo: PTI

Photo: PTI

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on his 65th birthday Thursday.

“On his birthday, I convey my good wishes to Mr. Nawaz Sharif and I pray that Almighty blesses him with good health,” tweeted Modi.

He visited former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence and greeted him on his 90th birthday and on being conferred with the Bharat Ratna.

In the morning, Modi took to Twitter and said there is no bigger tribute to Vajpayee than celebrating his birthday as ‘Good Governance Day’.

“There is no bigger tribute to Atal ji than celebrating his birthday as ‘Good Governance Day’ and pledging to devote ourselves to this cause,” Modi tweeted.

“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,” said another tweet by Modi.

Vajpayee, along with late freedom fighter-educationist Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, was Wednesday named for India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna. Both of them share their birthday Dec 25.

Modi Thursday paid floral tributes to educationist and Hindu Mahasabha leader Madan Mohan Malaviya on his 153th birth anniversary in Varanasi.

(IANS)

PM Modi’s message to the Nation on Good Governance

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Photo: PTI

Photo: PTI

Good Governance is the key to a nation’s progress. Our government is committed to providing a transparent and accountable administration which works for the betterment and welfare of the common citizen.

“Citizen-First” is our mantra, our motto and our guiding principle. It has been my dream to bring government closer to our citizens, so that they become active participants in the governance process. During the last seven months, our government has been consistently working towards this goal. mygov.in and interact with PM seek to make this engagement meaningful. The unprecedented response which these initiatives have evoked, places a large responsibility upon us, and I assure you, my countrymen that we will not let you down.

An important step for Good Governance is simplification of procedures and processes in the Government so as to make the entire system transparent and faster. The push towards self certification in place of affidavits and attestations is another indicator of the relationship of trust between the citizens and the Government. Doing away with cumbersome and out-dated legislations which no longer have relevance is another focus area. Already Appropriation Acts have been identified for repeal and more Acts are being reviewed.

Our government considers redress of public grievances as a very important component of a responsive administration. I have instructed all the Ministries to ensure that redress of public grievances receives the highest priority.

Government process re-engineering is yet another measure that we are pushing for. Ministries and Departments of the Government of India have been instructed to look into their work spheres, their internal processes and work on what and how to simplify and rationalise them. We are also working on a simpler internal work process manual, which would be delivered through an e-learning module.

I strongly believe that technology can and must bridge the divide between the government and the citizens. Technology is an empowering tool for the citizen and an accountability medium for the government. My government fully recognises the huge potential of this tool –Digital India aims to transform the country into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. Proposed to be implemented in phases, Digital India is transformational in nature and would ensure that Government services are available to citizens electronically. It would also bring in greater accountability through mandated delivery of government’s services electronically.

The effort to usher in an era of सुशासन has just begun, and begun on a very promising note. An open and accountable administration is what we had promised to deliver and we will do so.

Today is the birthday of our beloved leader, our former PM Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. On this occasion, we reiterate our commitment towards providing transparent, effective and accountable governance to the people of this country. Let us embark on this mission for good governance together.

Vajpayee, Malaviya to get Bharat Ratna

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Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya (file photos)

Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Madan Mohan Malviya (file photos)

New Delhi: A day ahead of their birth anniversaries, former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the late freedom fighter-educationist and the initial leaders of the Hindu Mahasabha, Madan Mohan Malaviya were named for India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna.

“The president has been pleased to award Bharat Ratna to Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya (posthmously) and to Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee,” a Rashtrapati Bhavan communique said.

Incidentally, both Vajpayee and Malaviya were born Dec 25 — the former in 1924 and the latter in 1861. Their birthday has also been declared as “Good Governance Day” by the government.

The honour for Gwalior-born Vajpayee, who was the country’s prime minister first in 1996 and then again from 1998 to 2004, came after years of demands from people across party affiliations and the public at large.

The 90-year-old veteran politician had re-started the Bharatiya Jan Sangh as the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980 and was the first head of government from outside the Congress party to serve a full five-year term.

He served the Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament, for 10 terms that began in 1957 and concluded in 2009.

An orator par excellence, Vajpayee had earned much fame as India’s external affairs minister in Prime Minister Morarji Desai government during which tenure he delivered a widely acclaimed speech to the United Nations General Assembly in Hindi.

Allahabad-born Malaviya was the president of the Indian National Congress for two terms and was also among the first leaders of the right-wing Hindu Mahasabha. Besides being a freedom fighter and politician, he was also an eminent educationist.

The Banaras Hindu University was founded by him in 1916. He died a year before India’s independence Aug 15, 1947.

Congress welcomes decision

The Congress Wednesday welcomed the decision to confer the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian honour, on former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and late freedom fighter and educationist Madan Mohan Malaviya.

Congress general secretary Ajay Maken tweeted a congratulatory message after the announcement was made.

“We welcome the conferring of Bharat Ratna on Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya and Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. We congratulate,” Maken said.

(IANS)

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