Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s 88th birthday celebrated
Statesman
The various units of Bharateeya Janata Party (BJP) celebrated the 88th birthday of former prime minister and senior BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee in different wards here on Sunday.
The party activists also offered pooja in various temples praying for good health for Vajpayee. The main event was held at Manuvana park near law courts where district in-charge minister S A Ramdas launched various development works at the park. As part of birthday celebrations, senior citizens and advocate Sampath Iyengar, former MLA H Gangadhar, educationist K V Arkanath were felicitated.
Speaking on the occasion, Gangadhar remembered Vajpayee as a man of peace who brought harmony between India and Pakistan in his capacity as foreign minister in Janata party government and during his tenure of prime minister.
“It was a cold December when I had visited New Delhi. I was wearing only a shirt. Vajpayee covered my body with his shawl and inquired about my well-being. It was most unforgettable moment in my life,” Gangadhar said and reminisced about the book he penned about the political career of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The book was released by former deputy prime minister L K Advani in Mumbai, he recalled.
A V Vidya Urs, opposition leader in the MCC council, M Venkatram, BJP city president Shivakumar, corporators Arun, Shivakumar and others were present.
Meanwhile, the members of BJP Narasimharaja unit organised a blood camp to mark the birthday celebration. BJP city convening secretary Srivathsa, chairman of Karnataka Exhibition
Authority B P Manjunath and others were present.
Corporator M Shankar distributed blankets for the inmates of Belaku Vathsalyadhama, a home for aged in Ramakrishna Nagar.
The Pathi foundation run by corporator Parthasarathy also observed the birthday offering pooja at the 101 Ganapathi temple in city. Former corporator Srikantaiah was present.
