90-471: Premiership [REDACTED] Atal Bihari Vajpayee (25 December 1924 – 16 August 2018) was an Indian politician, statesman and poet who served as the Prime Minister of India , first for a term of 13 days in 1996, then for a period of 13 months from 1998 to 1999, followed by a full term from 1999 to 2004 . He was the first non- Congress prime minister to serve a full term in
180-525: A "secret letter" to U.S. President Bill Clinton that if Pakistani infiltrators did not withdraw from the Indian territory, "we will get them out, one way or the other". After Pakistan suffered heavy losses, and with both the United States and China refusing to condone the incursion or threaten India to stop its military operations, General Pervez Musharraf was recalcitrant and Nawaz Sharif asked
270-598: A BJP conference in Mumbai in November 1995, BJP President Advani declared that Vajpayee would be the party's prime ministerial candidate in the forthcoming elections. Vajpayee himself was reported to be unhappy with the announcement, responding by saying that the party needed to win the election first. The BJP became the single largest party in Parliament in the 1996 general election , helped by religious polarisation across
360-714: A Bachelor of Arts in Hindi, English and Sanskrit . He completed his post-graduation with a Master of Arts in political science from DAV College, Kanpur , Agra University . His activism started in Gwalior with Arya Kumar Sabha, the youth wing of the Arya Samaj movement, of which he became the general secretary in 1944. He also joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1939 as a swayamsevak , or volunteer. Influenced by Babasaheb Apte , he attended
450-534: A cattle fair in October and November. The commercial livestock event is also of significance to Hindus , who make pilgrimage to the river Yamuna in honor of Shiva. Bateshwar has long been celebrated for its annual fair, believed to have been a fixture since time immemorial given the significance of Shoripur/Bateshwar in Hindu texts. Although the origins of this ancient fair are religious, and of immense importance in
540-523: A full five-year term in office. He died at the age of 93 on Thursday 16 August 2018 at 17:05 at AIIMS, New Delhi . After the 1996 general election , the BJP emerged as the single largest party in the Lok Sabha , the lower house of Parliament. Vajpayee was invited by President Shankar Dayal Sharma to form a government, but after 13 days in office, proved unable to muster a governing majority and resigned. He
630-561: A part of China, which was welcomed by the Chinese leadership, and which, in the following year, recognised Sikkim as part of India. China–India relations improved greatly in the following years. Vajpayee's government introduced many domestic economic and infrastructural reforms, including encouraging the private sector and foreign investments, reducing governmental waste, encouraging research and development and privatisation of some government owned corporations. Among Vajpayee's projects were
720-401: A renowned religious centre both for Hindu and Jain communities. In the epic Mahabharat Bateshwar is supposed to be referred as Shouripur a city of king Suresaine. It is known for 101 Shiv Temples built by Raja Badan Singh Bhadauria on a dam on the banks of Yamuna. Shaouripur, near Bateshwar, which is the birthplace of the 22nd Tirthankar of Jain faith, Lord Neminath. Each year the region hosts
810-730: A speech to the United Nations General Assembly in Hindi. In 1979, Desai and Vajpayee resigned, triggering the collapse of the Janata Party. The erstwhile members of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh came together to form the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1980, with Vajpayee as its first President. Leading up to Operation Bluestar , there were several protests by Sangh Parivar , including a march led by LK Advani and Vajpayee of
900-690: A tougher anti-terrorism law than Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act , POTA was criticised as compromising civil liberties and encouraging profiling of the Indian Muslim community. As the Rajya Sabha , the upper house of Parliament, was controlled by opposition parties, the Vajpayee government called a historic joint session of both houses of the Indian Parliament in order to enact POTA into law. On 27 February 2002,
990-455: Is called as Panch Mathi. The foot images of Muni 'Yama' & Muni 'Dhanya' are installed here. Bateshwar Temples are the collection of 108 Shiv Temples built by Raja Badan Singh Bhadauria. These are called Bateshwar Temples because As per the legends, here under a marvelous Banyan tree (Bat in Sanskrit), lord Shiva took rest for some time under that tree which is still standing at that place,
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#17327766758471080-469: Is death of any Yadav Jain takes place. Among Vaishnav Yadav Vanshi's this 'Diya' is lighted in Bateshwar on waters of Yamuna River. Shankha Dhwaj Mandir : This temple is constructed on the second story. There are four altars present in the sanctum of this temple. In central altar idol of principal deity Bhagwan Neminath are installed. There are two idols of 11th – 12th century installed in this temple and
1170-473: Is known for the 101 Shiv Temple Complex. An annual religious and animal fair is also organised in the village ground area. The name Bateshwar is derived from the main Bateshwarnath Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva (Bateshwarnath Mahadev). As per legends, here under a marvelous Banyan tree (Bat in Sanskrit), lord Shiva took rest for some time under that tree which is still standing at that place,
1260-483: The 1999 Kargil War with Pakistan, he sought to restore relations through engagement with President Pervez Musharraf , inviting him to India for a summit at Agra . Vajpayee's government introduced many domestic economic and infrastructural reforms , including encouraging the private sector and foreign investments, reducing governmental waste , encouraging research and development and privatisation of some government owned corporations. During his tenure, India's security
1350-523: The 2001-2002 military standoff . A terrorist attack on an army garrison in Kashmir in May 2002 further escalated the situation. As the threat of war between two nuclear capable countries and the consequent possibility of a nuclear exchange loomed large, international diplomatic mediation focused on defusing the situation. In October 2002, both India and Pakistan announced that they would withdraw their troops from
1440-837: The Agra district of Uttar Pradesh . Later he shifted to Gwalior from Morena for better opportunities. Vajpayee did his primary schooling at the Saraswati Shishu Mandir, Gwalior and high school education from the Gorkhi School, Gwalior. In 1934, he was admitted to the Anglo-Vernacular Middle (AVM) School in Barnagar , Ujjain district , after his father joined as headmaster. He subsequently attended Gwalior's Victoria College, (now Maharani Laxmi Bai Govt. College of Excellence ) where he graduated with
1530-543: The Cold War -era distant relationship and expanded trade and cooperation on strategic issues. After the 11 September 2001 attacks , India provided much strategic assistance to the U.S. in its war against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda . In 1999, Vajpayee personally travelled to Pakistan on the inaugural Delhi-Lahore Bus , which established a regular road link between the two countries for the first time since 1947. Vajpayee and
1620-541: The Indian army to quell the violence. Narayanan didn't speak out against Vajpayee during his term as president. Bateshwar, Uttar Pradesh Bateshwar is a village in Agra District , on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Bateshwar is in between Agra and Etawah and is 8 km from Bah . It is an important spiritual and cultural centre for Hindus and Jains . It
1710-701: The Member of Parliament from the Lucknow constituency , retiring from active politics in 2009 due to health concerns. He was among the founding members of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh , of which he was president from 1968 to 1972. The BJS merged with several other parties to form the Janata Party , which won the 1977 general election . In March 1977, Vajpayee became the Minister of External Affairs in
1800-618: The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution . After the fall of the two United Front governments between 1996 and 1998, the Lok Sabha was dissolved and fresh elections were held. The 1998 general elections again put the BJP ahead of others. A number of political parties joined the BJP to form the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), and Vajpayee was sworn in as the prime minister. The coalition
1890-699: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Other constituents of the NDA included the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), Bahujan Samaj Party , Shiv Sena , Shiromani Akali Dal , National Conference (NC) and the Trinamool Congress (TC), amongst others. By early 1999, the NDA government lost its majority after the AIADMK leader J. Jayalalithaa withdrew its support. President K. R. Narayanan dissolved
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#17327766758471980-714: The National Highway Development Project , with the first phase being the Golden Quadrilateral . In 2003, the government launched the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (Honouring of Non-Resident Indians ) and initiated plans to establish an Overseas citizenship of India to enable NRIs to invest and do business freely in India. His government also expanded efforts to encourage foreign investment, especially from Europe and
2070-623: The National Highways Development Project and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana . In 2001, the Vajpayee government launched the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan campaign, aimed at improving the quality of education in primary and secondary schools. In 2003, news reports suggested a tussle within the BJP with regard to sharing of leadership between Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani. BJP president Venkaiah Naidu had suggested that Advani must lead
2160-584: The Pokhran-I test of 1974. These tests established India as a nuclear weapons power , although it also resulted in the imposition of limited sanctions by the U.S., UK, Canada and other nations. By 2001, most of these sanctions had been lifted. In 1999, two months after the bilateral summit in Lahore, India discovered that Pakistani army disguised as terrorists had infiltrated through the Line of Control (LoC) into
2250-536: The 543 seats in the Lok Sabha, securing a comfortable and stable majority. On 13 October 1999, Vajpayee took oath as the prime minister of India for the third time. A national crisis emerged in December 1999, when Indian Airlines flight IC 814 from Kathmandu to New Delhi was hijacked by five terrorists and flown to Taliban -ruled Afghanistan. The hijackers made several demands including the release of certain terrorists like Masood Azhar from prison. Under pressure,
2340-624: The BJP. Under him, the BJP returned to a policy of hardline Hindu nationalism. It became the political voice of the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir Movement, which sought to build a temple dedicated to the Hindu deity Rama in Ayodhya . The temple would be built at a site believed to be the birthplace of Rama after demolishing a 16th-century mosque, called the Babri Masjid , which then stood there. The strategy paid off for
2430-670: The BJP; it won 86 seats in the Lok Sabha in the 1989 general election , making its support crucial to the government of V. P. Singh . In December 1992, a group of religious volunteers led by members of the BJP, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), tore down the mosque . He served as Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, for various terms starting at Balrampur from 1957–1962. He served again from Balrampur from 1967–1971, then from Gwalior from 1971–1977, and then from New Delhi from 1977–1984. Finally, he served from Lucknow from 1991–2009. During
2520-603: The Bhartiya Janta Party to protest against the lack of government action and to demand that the Indian Army be sent into the Golden Temple . The 1984 general elections were held in the wake of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassination by her Sikh bodyguards. While he had won the 1977 and the 1980 elections from New Delhi, Vajpayee shifted to his home town Gwalior for the election. Vidya Razdan
2610-515: The Congress, leading to a massive victory at the polls. The BJP won only two seats in parliament. Vajpayee offered to quit as party president following BJP's dismal performance in the election, but stayed in the post until 1986. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1986 from Madhya Pradesh, and was briefly the leader of the BJP in Parliament. In 1986, L. K. Advani took office as president of
2700-552: The Hindu religious calendar, the fair is also of great commercial value, and is renowned as the 2nd largest animal fair in the country (Sonepur in Bihar being the largest). This teerth is the birthplace of 22nd Teerthankar of Jainism, Bhagwan Shri Neminath . Following are the temples present in the area: Baruva Matha : It is the most ancient temple of Shouripur, which is constructed on a platform. The quite magnificent Black stone's Kayotsarga idol of principal deity Bhagwan Neminath
2790-541: The Human Resource Development Minister (now called Education Minister) Murli Manohar Joshi were indicted in the 1992 Babri Mosque demolition case for inciting a mob of activists. Vajpayee himself came under public scrutiny owing to his controversial speech one day prior to the mosque demolition. These years were accompanied by infighting in the administration and confusion regarding the direction of government. Vajpayee's weakening health
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2880-465: The Indian Parliament building on 13 December 2001, conducted by Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists led to the death of a dozen people (5 terrorists, 6 police and 1 civilian) and the 2001-2002 India-Pakistan standoff . In response to these attacks and an escalation in terrorist attacks in other parts of India, the NDA government promulgated the Prevention of Terrorism Act . Although
2970-510: The Indian parliament, during which India had severed diplomatic ties with Pakistan. Although diplomatic relations did not pick up immediately, visits were exchanged by high-level officials and the military standoff ended. The Pakistani President and Pakistani politicians, civil and religious leaders hailed this initiative as did the leaders of the United States, Europe and much of the world. In July 2003, Prime Minister Vajpayee visited China and met with various Chinese leaders. He recognised Tibet as
3060-628: The Jan Sangh, the precursor to the BJP, because of their discontent over Vajpayee's rule. Former president of the Jan Sangh Balraj Madhok had written a letter to the then-RSS chief Rajendra Singh for support. The BJP was, however, accused of "saffronising" the official state education curriculum and apparatus, saffron being the colour of the RSS flag of the RSS, and a symbol of the Hindu nationalism movement. Home Minister L. K. Advani and
3150-593: The Kashmir Valley, where they had taken control of border hilltops and unmanned border posts. The incursion was centred around the town of Kargil , but also included the Batalik and Akhnoor sectors and artillery exchanges at the Siachen Glacier . The Indian army responded with Operation Vijay, which launched on 26 May 1999. This saw the Indian military fighting thousands of militants and soldiers in
3240-477: The Kashmir dispute and other conflicts with Pakistan. The resultant Lahore Declaration espoused a commitment to dialogue, expanded trade relations and mutual friendship and envisaged a goal of denuclearised South Asia. This eased the tension created by the 1998 nuclear tests, not only within the two nations but also in South Asia and the rest of the world. The AIADMK had continually threatened to withdraw from
3330-474: The Officers Training Camp of the RSS during 1940 to 1944, becoming a pracharak (RSS terminology for a full-time worker) in 1947. He gave up studying law due to the partition riots. He was sent to Uttar Pradesh as a vistarak (a probationary pracharak ) and soon began working for the newspapers of Deendayal Upadhyaya : Rashtradharma (a Hindi monthly), Panchjanya (a Hindi weekly), and
3420-646: The Parliament and called fresh elections – the third in two years. Public anger against smaller parties that jeopardised the NDA coalition and the wave of support for the Vajpayee government in the aftermath of the Kargil War gave the BJP a larger presence in the Lok Sabha. The NDA won a decisive majority with the support of new constituents such as the Janata Dal (United) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam . The Vajpayee government expanded
3510-474: The Sabarmati Express train was attacked at Godhra by a Muslim mob. 59 Hindu pilgrims returning from Ayodhya were killed in the attack. Lasting for over a month, the riots claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims. The state government, led by Narendra Modi of the BJP, was severely criticised for being unable or unwilling to stop the violence. Vajpayee officially condemned
3600-516: The United States. The Vajpayee government improved India's ties with the People's Republic of China, boosting trade and seeking the resolution of territorial disputes through dialogue. India also established strategic and military cooperation with Israel , with both nations establishing cooperation in fighting terrorism. In 2000, U.S. President Bill Clinton became the first American president to visit India since Jimmy Carter . The U.S. and India ended
3690-669: The VHP and the Government engaging in a major standoff in Ayodhya over the Ram temple . On the 10th anniversary of the destruction of the Babri mosque , the VHP wanted to perform a shila daan , or a ceremony laying the foundation stone of the cherished temple at the disputed site. Thousands of VHP activists amassed and threatened to overrun the site and forcibly perform the ceremony. A threat of communal violence and breakdown of law and order owing to
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3780-422: The border. The Vajpayee administration brought in the Prevention of Terrorism Act in 2002. The act was aimed at curbing terrorist threats by strengthening powers of government authorities to investigate and act against suspects. It was passed in a joint session of the parliament, amidst concerns that the law would be misused. Another political disaster hit his government between December 2001 and March 2002 with
3870-413: The building was sealed off swiftly and security forces cornered and killed the men who were later proven to be Pakistan nationals. Vajpayee ordered Indian troops to mobilise for war, leading to an estimated 500,000 to 750,000 Indian soldiers positioned along the international border between India and Pakistan under Operation Parakram. Pakistan responded by mobilising its own troops along the border leading to
3960-592: The cabinet of Prime Minister Morarji Desai . He resigned in 1979, and the Janata alliance collapsed soon after. Former members of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh formed the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980, with Vajpayee its first president. During his tenure as prime minister , India carried out the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998. Vajpayee sought to improve diplomatic relations with Pakistan , travelling to Lahore by bus to meet with Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif . After
4050-497: The coalition and national leaders repeatedly flew down from Delhi to Chennai to pacify the AIADMK general secretary J. Jayalalithaa . However, in May 1999, the AIADMK withdrew from NDA, and the Vajpayee administration was reduced to a caretaker status pending fresh elections scheduled for October 1999 . In May 1999 some Kashmiri shepherds discovered the presence of militants and non-uniformed Pakistani soldiers (many with official identifications and Pakistan Army 's custom weaponry) in
4140-502: The country as a result of the demolition of the Babri Masjid. Indian president Shankar Dayal Sharma invited Vajpayee to form the government. Vajpayee was sworn in as the 10th prime minister of India, but the BJP failed to muster a majority among members of the Lok Sabha. Vajpayee resigned after 16 days, when it became clear that he did not have enough support to form a government. In this short period, he also created and administered
4230-405: The creation of jobs, a rising high-tech and IT industry and urban modernisation and expansion improved the nation's international image. Good crop harvests and strong industrial expansion also helped the economy. In May 2003, he announced before the parliament that he would make one last effort to achieve peace with Pakistan. The announcement ended a period of 16 months, following the 2001 attack on
4320-598: The dailies Swadesh and Veer Arjun . By 1942, at the age of 16 years, Vajpayee became an active member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and joined it shakha in Gwalior along with his elder brother. Although the RSS had chosen not to participate in the Quit India Movement , in August 1942, Vajpayee and his elder brother Prem were arrested for 24 days during the Quit India Movement. He
4410-413: The defiance of the government by a religious organisation hung over the nation. The incident, however, ended peacefully with a symbolic handover of a stone at a different location 1 km away from the disputed site. In February 2002, a train filled with Hindu pilgrims returning to Gujarat from Ayodhya stopped in the town of Godhra . A scuffle broke out between Hindu activists and Muslim residents, and
4500-601: The ensuing vote of confidence motion in the Lok Sabha by a single vote on 17 April 1999. As the opposition was unable to come up with the numbers to form the new government, the Lok Sabha was again dissolved and fresh elections were held. In May 1998, India conducted five underground nuclear tests in the Pokhran desert in Rajasthan , 24 years after its first nuclear test, operation Smiling Buddha in 1974. Two weeks later, Pakistan responded with its own nuclear tests making it
4590-470: The government ultimately caved in. Jaswant Singh , the then minister of external affairs, flew with the terrorists to Afghanistan and exchanged them for the passengers. In March 2000, Bill Clinton , the President of the United States, paid a state visit to India. This was the first state visit to India by a U.S. president in 22 years, since President Jimmy Carter's visit in 1978. President Clinton's visit
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#17327766758474680-428: The idols of Bhagwan Parshvanath, Bhagwan Chandraprabhu and Bhagwan Vimalnath reverenced in V.S. 1357 (I. S. 1300) are collectively installed in the second altar of this temple. Many other artistic ancient idols are also installed here. Panch Mathi : On the left hand side of Shankha Dhwaj Mandir the ancient Tonks & spires (umbrellas) are constructed in one ground which is surrounded by walls from all sides. This place
4770-486: The impossible and inconceivable" and likened him to Hindu god Rama . Vajpayee's oratorial skills won him the reputation of being the most eloquent defender of the Jana Sangh's policies. After the death of Upadhyaya, the leadership of the Jana Sangh passed to Vajpayee. He became the national president of the Jana Sangh in 1968, running the party along with Nanaji Deshmukh , Balraj Madhok and L. K. Advani . Vajpayee
4860-566: The international sanctions imposed failed to sway India from weaponising its nuclear capability. US sanctions against India and Pakistan were eventually lifted after just six months. In late 1998 and early 1999, Vajpayee began a push for a full-scale diplomatic peace process with Pakistan. With the historic inauguration of the Delhi-Lahore bus service in February 1999, Vajpayee initiated a new peace process aimed towards permanently resolving
4950-435: The midst of heavy artillery shelling and while facing extremely cold weather, snow and treacherous terrain at the high altitude. Over 500 Indian soldiers were killed in the three-month-long Kargil War, and it is estimated around 600–4,000 Pakistani militants and soldiers died as well. India pushed back the Pakistani militants and Northern Light Infantry soldiers. Almost 70% of the territory was recaptured by India. Vajpayee sent
5040-443: The newest nation with declared nuclear capability. While some nations, such as France, endorsed India's right to defensive nuclear power, others including the United States, Canada, Japan, Britain and the European Union imposed sanctions on information, resources and technology to India. In spite of intense international criticism and steady decline in foreign investment and trade, the nuclear tests were popular domestically. In effect,
5130-465: The newly formed Bharatiya Jana Sangh , a Hindu right-wing political party associated with the RSS. He was appointed as a national secretary of the party in charge of the Northern region, based in Delhi. He soon became a follower and aide of party leader Syama Prasad Mukherjee . In the 1957 Indian general election , Vajpayee contested elections to the Lok Sabha , the lower house of the Indian Parliament . He lost to Raja Mahendra Pratap in Mathura , but
5220-414: The office. Vajpayee was one of the co-founders and a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party . He was a member of the RSS , a Hindu nationalist volunteer organisation. He was also a Hindi poet and a writer. He was a member of the Indian Parliament for over five decades, having been elected ten times to the Lok Sabha , the lower house, and twice to the Rajya Sabha , the upper house. He served as
5310-573: The party politically at the 2004 general elections, referring to Vajpayee as vikas purush , Hindi for development man, and Advani as loh purush , iron man. When Vajpayee subsequently threatened retirement, Naidu backtracked, announcing that the party would contest the elections under the twin leadership of Vajpayee and Advani. The NDA was widely expected to retain power after the 2004 general election . It announced elections six months ahead of schedule, hoping to capitalise on economic growth, and Vajpayee's peace initiative with Pakistan. The 13th Lok Sabha
5400-446: The place hence came to be known as Bateshwar (i.e. Bat ishwar or The banyan lord). Reaching Bateshwar is like cutting between the sand dunes of Chambal. Its view is terrific and will excite you more in Rainy Season. The area is less populated. Bateshwar features a semiarid climate that borders on a humid subtropical climate . The village features mild winters, hot and dry summers and a monsoon season. Since ages Bateshwar remained
5490-481: The place hence came to be known as Bateshwar (i.e. Bat ishwar or The banyan lord). Bateshwar Dham Bateshwar is connected by road and rail. The Agra – Bah Road passes through this town and has a major impact on the development. Bateshwar Halt railway station is a small halt station. Bandra Terminus – Ghazipur City Weekly Express and Agra Cantt. – Mainpuri DEMU (via Etawah) connects the town with Mumbai , Agra , Ghazipur , Mainpuri and Etawah . Saifai Airstrip
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#17327766758475580-535: The principal architect of the Kargil War in India. By accepting him as the President of Pakistan , Vajpayee chose to move forward leaving behind the Kargil War. But after three days of much fanfare, which included Musharraf visiting his birthplace in Delhi, the summit failed to achieve a breakthrough as President Musharraf declined to leave aside the issue of Kashmir. On 13 December 2001, a group of masked, armed men with fake IDs stormed Parliament House in Delhi. The terrorists managed to kill several security guards, but
5670-459: The process of economic liberalisation initiated by the P.V. Narasimha Rao government (1991–1996). His government initiated the privatisation of most state corporations, including the Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd. His government also began the establishment of special export processing zones, Information Technology and Industrial Parks across the country to bolster industrial production and exports. In its third term (1999–2004), his government launched
5760-438: The remaining militants to stop and withdraw to positions along the LoC. The militants were not willing to accept orders from Sharif but the NLI soldiers withdrew. The militants were killed by the Indian army or forced to withdraw in skirmishes which continued even after the announcement of withdrawal by Pakistan. The 1999 general elections were held in the aftermath of the Kargil operations. The BJP-led NDA won 303 seats out of
5850-482: The single largest party, winning 145 seats in the election. The Congress and its allies, comprising many smaller parties, formed the United Progressive Alliance , accounting for 220 seats in the parliament. Vajpayee resigned as prime minister. The UPA, with the outside support of communist parties, formed the next government with Manmohan Singh as the prime minister. Premiership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Premiership [REDACTED] Atal Bihari Vajpayee
5940-690: The site of the most violent riots. He announced financial aid for victims and urged an end to the violence. While he condemned the violence, he did not chastise Modi directly in public. When asked as to what his message to the chief minister in the event of the riots would be, Vajpayee responded that Modi must follow raj dharma , Hindi for ethical governance. At the meeting of the BJP national executive in Goa in April 2002, Vajpayee's speech generated controversy for its contents which included him saying: "Wherever Muslims live, they don't like to live in co-existence with others." The Prime Minister's Office stated that these remarks had been taken out of context. Vajpayee
6030-439: The state of Jammu and Kashmir with active Pakistani assistance and participation. In response, the Indian armed forces launched Operation Vijay to evict the infiltrators. By July, 1999 Indian forces had reclaimed territories on its side of the LoC. The Vajpayee government also established the Defence Intelligence Agency to provide better military intelligence and monitor India's border with Pakistan. The terrorist attack on
6120-404: The state of emergency in 1977. A coalition of parties, including the BJS, came together to form the Janata Party , which won the 1977 general elections . Morarji Desai , the chosen leader of the alliance, became the prime minister. Vajpayee served as the minister of external affairs , or foreign minister, in Desai's cabinet. As foreign minister, Vajpayee became the first person in 1977 to deliver
6210-420: The then- Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif issued the Lahore Declaration , which committed the two nations to resolve bilateral disputes through dialogue and concurrently boost trade. However, the Lahore summit's success was diminished by the outbreak of the Kargil War just months later. In 2001, Vajpayee and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf held the Agra summit , which failed to produce results and
6300-498: The train was set on fire, leading to the deaths of 59 people. The charred bodies of the victims were displayed in public in the city of Ahmedabad , and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad called for a statewide strike in Gujarat. These decisions stoked anti-Muslim sentiments. Blaming Muslims for the deaths, rampaging Hindu mobs killed thousands of Muslim men and women, destroying Muslim homes and places of worship. The violence raged for more than two months, and more than 1,000 people died. Gujarat
6390-578: The violence. Later Vajpayee made controversial remarks: "Wherever there are Muslims, they do not want to live in peace with others. Instead of living peacefully, they want to propagate their religion by creating terror in the minds of others." According to Sanjay Ruparelia, Vajpayee used Muslim terrorism to justify the violence in Gujarat. Ornit Shani believes that Vajpayee's government believed that Muslim provoked violence against themselves by simply being Muslim. The Milli Gazette criticized Vajpayee as "Muslim-bashing". Rafiq Dossani believes that Vajpayee
6480-597: Was accused of doing nothing to stop the violence, and later admitted mistakes in handling the events. K. R. Narayanan , then president of India , also blamed Vajpayee's government for failing to quell the violence. After the BJP's defeat in the 2004 general elections, Vajpayee admitted that not removing Modi had been a mistake. In late 2002 and 2003 the government pushed through economic reforms. The country's GDP growth exceeded 7% every year from 2003 to 2007, following three years of sub-5% growth. Increasing foreign investment, modernisation of public and industrial infrastructure,
6570-584: Was also a subject of public interest, and he underwent a major knee-replacement surgery at the Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai to relieve intense pressure upon his legs. In March 2001, the Tehelka group released a sting operation video named Operation West End which showed BJP president Bangaru Laxman , senior army officers and NDA members accepting bribes from journalists posing as agents and businessmen. The Defence Minister George Fernandes
6660-651: Was an Indian politician who served thrice as Prime Minister of India, first from 16 May to 1 June 1996, and then from 19 March 1998 to 22 May 2004. A member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Vajpayee was the tenth Prime Minister. He headed the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in the Indian Parliament , and became the first Prime Minister unaffiliated with the Indian National Congress to complete
6750-516: Was an uneasy one, as apart from the Shiv Sena , none of the other parties espoused the BJP's Hindu-nationalist ideology. Vajpayee has been credited for managing this coalition successfully, while facing ideological pressure from the hardline wing of the party and from the RSS. Vajpayee's government lasted 13 months until mid-1999 when the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) under J. Jayalalithaa withdrew its support. The government lost
6840-462: Was appealing to a post- 9/11 neo-conservative mood. Vajpayee was accused of doing nothing to stop the violence. He later admitted his mistake in underestimating the violence and not doing enough to stop it. K.R. Narayanan , then president of India , stated that the violence stemmed from a "conspiracy" between Vajpayee's central BJP-led government, and Gujarat's BJP government. Narayanan said he wrote several letters to Vajpayee asking him deploy
6930-733: Was arrested along with several other opposition leaders during the Internal Emergency imposed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975. Initially interned in Bangalore , Vajpayee appealed his imprisonment on the grounds of bad health, and was moved to a hospital in Delhi. In December 1976, Vajpayee ordered the student activists of the ABVP to tender an unconditional apology to Indira Gandhi for perpetrating violence and disorder. The ABVP student leaders refused to obey his order. Gandhi ended
7020-420: Was being ruled by a BJP government, with Narendra Modi as the chief minister. The state government was criticised for mishandling the situation. It was accused of doing little to stop the violence, and even being complicit in encouraging it. Vajpayee reportedly wanted to remove Modi but was eventually prevailed upon by party members to not act against him. He travelled to Gujarat, visiting Godhra, and Ahmedabad,
7110-673: Was dissolved before the completion of its term. The BJP hoped to capitalise on a perceived 'feel-good factor' and BJP's recent successes in the Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh . Under the " India Shining " campaign, it released ads proclaiming the economic growth of the nation under the government. However, the BJP could only win 138 seats in the 543-seat parliament, with several prominent cabinet ministers being defeated. The NDA coalition won 185 seats. The Indian National Congress, led by Sonia Gandhi , emerged as
7200-459: Was elected from Balrampur . He was influenced by Jawaharlal Nehru to the extent that he mirrored his style, diction, and tone of his speeches. Nehru's influence was also evident in Vajpayee's leadership. In the Lok Sabha his oratorial skills so impressed Prime Minister Nehru that he predicted that Vajpayee would someday become the prime minister of India. On the occasion of Nehru's death on 27 May 1964, Vajpayee termed him as "the orchestrator of
7290-515: Was forced to resign following the Barak Missile scandal involving the botched supplies of coffins for the soldiers killed in Kargil, and the findings of an inquiry commission that the government could have prevented the Kargil invasion. Vajpayee initiated talks with Pakistan and invited Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf to Agra for a joint summit . President Musharraf was believed to be
7380-456: Was hailed as a significant milestone in relations between the two nations. Vajpayee and Clinton had wide-ranging discussions on bilateral, regional and international developments. The visit led to expansion in trade and economic ties between India and the United States. A vision document on the future course of Indo-U.S. relations was signed during the visit. Domestically, the BJP-led government
7470-568: Was honoured India's highest civilian honour - Bharat Ratna , by the then President of India , Pranab Mukherjee . He died in 2018 due to age-related illness. Vajpayee was born into a Kanyakubja Brahmin family on 25 December 1924 in Gwalior , Madhya Pradesh . His mother was Krishna Devi and his father was Krishna Bihari Vajpayee. His father was a school teacher in Gwalior. His grandfather, Shyam Lal Vajpayee, had migrated to Morena , Madhya Pradesh from his ancestral village of Bateshwar in
7560-545: Was influenced by the RSS, but owing to its dependence on coalition support, it was impossible for the BJP to push items like building the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya, repealing Article 370 which gave a special status to the state of Kashmir, or enacting a uniform civil code applicable to adherents of all religions. On 17 January 2000, there were reports of the RSS and some BJP hard-liners threatening to restart
7650-593: Was initially tipped to be the Congress candidate. Instead, Madhavrao Scindia , scion of the Gwalior royal family , was brought in on the last day of filing nominations. Vajpayee lost to Scindia, managing to secure only 29% of the votes. Under Vajpayee, the BJP moderated the Hindu-nationalist position of the Jana Sangh, emphasising its connection to the Janata Party and expressing support for Gandhian Socialism . The ideological shift did not bring it success and Indira Gandhi's assassination generated sympathy for
7740-414: Was overshadowed by the 2001-2002 India-Pakistan standoff . In 2003, Vajpayee declared in the Indian Parliament that he was making his final initiative to make peace with Pakistan, and oversaw considerable improvement in relations and a ceasefire between Indian forces and militant groups in the state of Jammu and Kashmir . In May, 1998 India conducted five underground nuclear tests – Pokhran-II , following
7830-419: Was released after giving a written statement that while he was a part of the crowd, he did not participate in the militant events in Bateshwar on 27 August 1942. Throughout his life, including after he became prime minister, Vajpayee has labelled the allegation of participation in the Quit India Movement to be a false rumour. In 1951, Vajpayee was seconded by the RSS, along with Deendayal Upadhyaya , to work for
7920-403: Was reverenced in 1953. This idol is 8 feet high. There is a spire made of stone above the idol and behind idol there is an artistic halo is present carved in stone. On the feet base (Charan Peeth) the two lions are constructed facing each other and in between these two there is an image of Conch shell. In Yadav Jains, there is a tradition of lighting of 'Diya' on Kartik Shukla 14 here whenever there
8010-588: Was succeeded by H. D. Dewe Gowda , leader of the United Front (UF) coalition, and became the Leader of the Opposition . The United Front was only able to sustain a majority in Parliament until 1998, resigning after the Indian National Congress withdrew its support. In the 1998 Indian general election the BJP again emerged as the single-largest party, but was able to assemble a governing coalition called
8100-580: Was threatened by a number of violent incidents including 2001 Indian Parliament attack and 2002 Gujarat riots which ultimately caused his defeat in 2004 general election . Vajpayee was conferred with the Padma Vibhushan in 1992, India's second highest civilian award by the Government of India . The administration of Narendra Modi declared in 2014 that Vajpayee's birthday, 25 December would be marked as Good Governance Day . In 2015, he
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