Atal Bihari Vajpayee turns 93, party workers perform 'havan'

"His phenomenal as well as visionary leadership made India more developed and further raised our prestige at the world stage. I pray for his good health," Modi tweeted

Former PM Atal Bihar Vajpayee turns 93 today/ File PTI IMAGE

New Delhi: Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee turned 93 on Monday.  Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished him on his birthday. "His phenomenal as well as visionary leadership made India more developed and further raised our prestige at the world stage. I pray for his good health," Modi tweeted.

Birthday greetings to our beloved Atal Ji. His phenomenal as well as visionary leadership made India more developed and further raised our prestige at the world stage. I pray for his good health.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 25, 2017

Wishing him on his birthday, Naidu posted a poem by Vajpayee which urged people to remain united and not to give up hope in tough times. Also, party workers performed 'havan' in Kanpur praying for good health and long life of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as he turns 93 today.

#UttarPradesh: BJP workers perform 'havan' in #Kanpur praying for good health and long life of former Prime Minister #AtalBihariVajpayee as he turns 93 today pic.twitter.com/RsbvmcD8kO — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 25, 2017

Vajpayee was elected to Lok Sabha from Lucknow in 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2004. He is the first and the only non- Congress leader who completed his full term as prime minister. Born in 1924, he entered politics during the Quit India movement in 1942. He was also the first external affairs minister to deliver a speech in the UN Assembly in Hindi.