Three time Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee passed away on August 16, 2018. He was the oldest living former PM and was fondly called 'Bhishma Pitamah' in the political arena.
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Senior BJP leader and former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee passed away on Thursday, August 16, 2018. He was the oldest living former Indian PM. ▲
Born on Dec 25, 1924, He was elected to the Lok Sabha 10 times and was an MP for over four decades. ▲
He was the Prime Minister of India three times – 1996 (for 13 days), 1998-1999 (11 months) and 1998-2004. Vajpayee was also the first non-Congress member to serve full five-year term as Prime Minister of India. ▲
President K R Narayanan administering the oath of office to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in this October 1999 photo. ▲
Vajpayee (centre) was one of the founding members of Bharatiya Jana Sangh, which was later restructured as Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980. Photo of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee discussing poll strategy for the 2004 Lok Sabha elections with then Chief Ministers of the seven BJP ruled States. ▲
Underground nuclear tests, called Pokhran II was conducted during his government in May 1998. Image shows Atal Bihari Vajpayee with George Fernandes and Abdul Kalam at the underground nuclear explosion test sites in Pokhran, Rajasthan on May 20, 1998. ▲
The Lahore Declaration, a peace process aimed to permanently resolve the Kashmir issue with Pakistan was initiated by Vajpayee. Then Prime Ministers A B Vajpayee (right) and Nawaz Sharif exchanging documents after
signing the Lahore Declaration at the Darbar Hall of Governor House in Lahore. ▲
The Kargil War was won by the Indian Army under his leadership. Here Vajpayee is seen saluting the soldiers in Kargil. ▲
Some of the reforms introduced during his Prime Minsitership were – foreign investment and encouraging the private sector, research and development and privatisation of government owned corporations. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and National Highways Development Project were also introduced by him. ▲
Vajpayee was hailed for maintaining relationships with neighbouring countries and global powers including Pakistan, USA and Russia. In this photo, Vajpayee welcomes former US President Bill Clinton at his residence in New Delhi. ▲
Russian President Vladmir Putin with then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during the signing of the joint declaration and other agreements in New Delhi in 2003. ▲
Atal Bihari Vajpayee took a historical journey on a bus to Lahore from Delhi on February 20, 1999, to meet his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif as part of signing a peace accord. Photo shows Vajpayee with Dev Anand, Prakash Singh Badal, Jaswant Singh and other members of peace delegation soon after arriving at Pakistan. ▲
Fondly referred to as Bhisma Pitamah of Indian politics, he retired from active politics in 2005. Atal Bihari Vajpayee with former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. ▲
He was awarded Bharat Ratna in 2015 and Padma Vibhushan in 1992. Then President Pranab Mukherjee, during Conferment Bharat Ratna on Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence. ▲
Apart from being an active politician, he was very well known for his oratory skills in the Parliament. ▲
He had penned several books and poems and was remembered for his humorous responses on tricky questions. Photo shows veteran BJP leader L K Advani with Prabhat Jha (right) BJP MP, release a book 'Select Poems' of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, on his 90th birthday at Constitution Club in New Delhi on December 25, 2014. ▲
The Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee addressing the 53rd U.N. Assembly Session, in New York on September 24, 1998. ▲