Hyderabad, Dec.25 (RAHNUMA): A statue of former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee was unveiled at LB Nagar here on Thursday on the occasion of his 101st birth anniversary, marking the ‘Atal Smriti Varsh’ (Atal Remembrance Year).
The event was attended by Tripura Governor Nallu Indrasena Reddy, BJP Telangana State President N. Ramchander Rao, MP Etela Rajender and senior party leaders.
Speaking on the occasion, Ramchander Rao said it was a moment of pride to unveil Vajpayee’s statue on his birth anniversary, which is observed nationwide as ‘Good Governance Day’. He thanked the donors and committee members who contributed to the installation of the statue.
Rao described Vajpayee as a symbol of value-based politics, noting that even while strongly criticizing opponents, he never resorted to personal insults. Recalling parliamentary traditions, Rao said Jawaharlal Nehru himself had once praised Vajpayee’s oratory despite sharp criticism. “Such political culture is sadly missing in Telangana today, where abusive language is being used in the name of criticism”, he remarked.
Highlighting Vajpayee’s moral leadership, Rao said the former Prime Minister chose to relinquish power when his government lost by just one vote, despite having potential support. He also credited Vajpayee with transformative initiatives such as the Golden Quadrilateral highway project, housing for the poor, and strengthening the foundation of social justice.
Rao added that Vajpayee’s vision continues under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, particularly in infrastructure and development programmes. Calling Vajpayee a role model for youth, he urged the people to remember his unparalleled contributions to the nation.
