Visionary Vajpayee prioritised development
December 25 is celebrated as Good Governance Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. A great statesman and a capable leader, he was a doyen of Indian politics. It was due to his charisma and administrative skills that he successfully led one of the most diverse coalition governments of independent India. Leaders from all political parties respected him and saw him as a role model. This was the reason that the then Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao sent him to represent India at the United Nations.
When the Emergency was imposed, he agitated for the protection of democracy and was put in jail. In 1977, he became the External Affairs Minister in the Janata Party government led by Morarji Desai. As External Affairs Minister, he won the respect of leaders from all over the world, especially Islamic countries. He was instrumental in developing good relations with our neighbours. This goodwill generated by him helped India build a strong international image when Vajpayee became the Prime Minister.
In 1998, I got a chance to work under his leadership. In the real sense, he was the first non-Congress Prime Minister of India. I was the Urban Development Minister in his government. He believed that the construction of four-laned highways and strengthening of the rail, air and waterway network should be given due priority as these would boost Indian economy and fast-track development. During his tenure, roads were constructed rapidly. He initiated the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana that revolutionised rural connectivity. As the Prime Minister, he also prioritised water and air connectivity, besides teleconnectivity throughout India. One of his dream projects was the interlinking of rivers, which needs to be followed up.
As the Urban Development Minister, I met him regarding my plan to eradicate slums from our cities. I apprised him of the unhygienic conditions and non-availability of basic amenities in slum areas. I proposed pucca houses by replacing huts. Vajpayeeji agreed with me and asked me to work on this project. However, some of my senior colleagues were not very enthusiastic about the idea, so the project was not moving forward. Vajpayeeji said, “Don’t worry, give the project a good name and start.” I named the project Valmiki-Ambedkar Awas Yojana. He was very happy because for the first time a scheme was named after Babasaheb Ambedkar. On August 15, 2001, the Prime Minister announced this ambitious project from the Red Fort. The scheme provided for 50 per cent grant by the Central Government and the rest to be released by the state governments or given as a loan by HUDCO (Housing and Urban Development Corporation). Vajpayeeji supported the scheme wholeheartedly and I got nearly Rs 1,000 crore in the first year itself. This was one of the happiest moments of my life. Lakhs of houses were built for the poor and Dalits under the scheme. I still remember that Atalji, after announcing this scheme, invited me to his residence and appreciated the initiative. The then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Mayawati also expressed gratitude for this scheme.
Atalji also gave me his full support for a scheme for street vendors. These people had no protection and were greatly exploited. I discussed with him and he immediately directed me to formulate a policy for them. I had been the president of the street vendors’ association, so I understood their problems. The draft policy went to the Cabinet and many allies were not in its favour. But Vajpayeeji told everyone, “We must think with compassion and empathy and understand the problems of the downtrodden and decide this matter on humanitarian grounds.” After this, the Cabinet approved the plan.
Atalji had great affection for Himachal Pradesh and had a deep bond with Himachalis. He considered Himachal his second home. This is why he made his home at Prini in Kullu district. He wrote many poems on the beauty of the snow-clad hills here. He was so impressed with Manali that he wrote a poem titled Bulati Tumhe Manali. The Rohtang tunnel is his gift. In 1999, when the Kargil war broke out, the PMO was shifted to Manali. Many decisions related to the security of the country were taken here. It was at that time that the vision of constructing the strategically important Rohtang tunnel was crystallised. Recently, I got a chance to visit the Rohtang tunnel. It is a matter of pride for the countrymen that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fulfilled Atalji’s dream and dedicated this tunnel to the nation.
Vajpayeeji was awarded the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour of the country, for his outstanding services to the nation. Earlier, he was conferred the Padma Vibhushan in 1992. He was also awarded the Best Parliamentarian Award in 1994.
His thoughts have had an immense impact on my life. He quickened the pace of economic reforms initiated by Narasimha Rao. Today, there is a need to build a new India by fulfilling the dreams of Atalji and to make the new generation aware of his ideas.
