BJP TODAY

September 16--30, 2004 - Vol. 13, No. 18

Atalji, one of the topmost Prime Minister India has produced
R. Venkatraman pays tribute to Atal Bihari Vajpayee
By our special correspondent

Former President R. Venkatraman has described Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee as one of the topmost Prime Ministers India has produced. With further enconiums as a "precious jewel", he wished Atalji a long life and return to power.

The occasion was the release of a compendium of Atalji's speeches in Parliament during the last six years, entitled "Politics of Coalition", edited by Dr. N. M. Ghatate, former member of the law commission and published by Prabhat Prakashan.

Shri venkatraman said that while speaking on Atalji, he felt the same sort of trepidation that poet Kalidasa had felt before taking up writing the epic "Raghuvans" on the sacred life of Lord Rama, like his "trying to cross the ocean in a small, leaky boat".

Describing Shri Atalji's life as endowed with multifaceted and unique qualities. Shri Venkatraman said that Atalji always kept welfare of the Nation as his duty and was one of the topmost Prime Minister India produced said.

Recalling the ordeal Atalji had faced for six years, running a coalition with 24 constituent parties, Shri Venkatraman said that the period was a critical one, and yet be managed to run that government for full five years, proving his versatility.

Shri Venkataraman recalls Shri Vajpayee's term as the Minister of External Affairs in 1977-79 and said he was always open to suggestions from the opposition. Atalji had greatly contributed to the decorum and signity of Parliament. He was the best orator India had produced in recent times and relied more on logic than politics in Parliament, saying that "democracy is not a game between 51 and 49".

Commenting on the subject matter of the book released that evening a "coalition politics", Shri Venkatraman said he was personally opposed to coalition governments. If Atalji succeeded in running one, that was his ability and in doing so he had rendered a great service to the Nation.
Shri Venkataraman eulogised Atalji also for the courageous decision not to send armed forces to Iraq despite pressures.

Similarly, he had withstood pressure during the Kargil war too when the United States had exerted it.

Apart from Vice president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat who released the compendium, Shri L. K. Advani, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Shri George Fernandes, Convenor of the National Democratic Alliance, former Prime Minister I. K. Gujral, former Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Nazma Heptullah, Shri Yashwant Sinha, former External Affairs Minister, Shri Jaswant Singh, former Finance Minister, Shri Jagdish Prasad Mathur, Senior BJP leader, Shrimati Sushma Swaraj, Samajvadi Party leader Amar Singh, Shri S. S. Ahluwalia, BJP Member of the Rajya Sabha and Shri Varun Gandhi were among those present on the occasion.

(Another story on Shri Venkatraman's speech elsewhere in this issue).