New Delhi: On the occasion of the first death anniversary of one of the tallest leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Prime Minster Narendra Modi along with several other bigwigs of the party arrived at the Sadaiv Atal - the memorial of former Prime Minister in the national capital on Friday morning. It was on this day, one year ago, when country's most beloved and iconic leader left for the heavenly adobe.  Several dignitaries including Vajpayee's daughter Namita Kaul Bhattacharya and granddaughter Niharika joined the event.

Along with PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP working President JP Nadda, Railway and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and several other top BJP leaders visited the memorial of the former prime minister, to pay their tributes. Atal Bihari Vajpayee had died on August 16, 2018, after a period of prolonged illness.

The event was also joined by President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President Venkaiah Naidu. Eventually every other leaders including Union Ministers and Chief Ministers of the BJP would attend the event to extend their gratitude to one of the greatest political leaders in the history of Indian politics.


West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took to micro-blogging site Twitter and extended her tribute to BJP stalwart leader. "Tribute to Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, former Prime Minister, on his first death anniversary. Let us recall his words: “The gun can solve no problems. Issues can be guided by the three principles of insaniyat, jamhooriyat and kashmiriyat,” she tweeted.

Even the Vice President took to Twitter and remembered Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his first death anniversary. "Atal Ji brought systematic changes in the governance of the country through technology, innovation, and research to improve the lives of people. He brought the connectivity revolution and paved the way for development and growth," he wrote.

According to reports, BJP workers and leaders have also organised a cultural programme on the occasion and all the party members would join the event to pay their tributes to the former PM. It is also being said that a statue of Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be built in Manali, which he considered as his second home.

Born on December 25, 1924, in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, Vajpayee was one of the most hailed and respected leaders of the BJP. Vajpayee was first elected to parliament in 1957 as a member of Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS). Vajpayee earned popularity among the masses for improving relations with Pakistan and China.

Vajpayee was sworn in as Prime Minister in May 1996, but was only for 13 days as BJP failed to attract support from other parties. Again in early 1998, he became prime minister, in elections in which the BJP won a record number of seats, but he was forced to make an alliance with other regional parties.