Vajpayee turns 88, HP PK Dhumal wants Bharat Ratna for him

BJP stalwart and former Premier Atal Behari Vajpayee turned 88 on Sungay and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was among the political leaders who greeted him visiting his residence in Delhi.

Vajpayee's birthday, which falls on Christmas day, was observed as "good governance" day by BJP which held a rally in reminding citizens of the clean governance by his government, saying "no scams or corruption" were reported during the party-led NDA's rule, and the country had prospered.

At an event in Shimla in BJP-ruled Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister PK Dhumal made a strong plea for conferring Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award, on Vajpayee in recognition of his valuable services to the nation in various capacities.

Prime Minister Singh went to the residence of Vajpayee and presented him a bouquet.

"Today is Atalji's birthday and we have decided to observe his birthday as good governance day. Because people still remember the good governance during Vajpyee-led NDA rule," BJP president Nitin Gadkari told reporters after meeting Vajpayee.

LK Advani, Vajpayee's close associate of several decades, Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley and Ravi Shankar Prasad were among the BJP leaders who visited Vajpayee's residence to extend their birthday greetings.

"Greetings and well wishes are coming from all over the country for Atalji. He is the tallest leader of the BJP and is our source of inspiration. Though he is not able to work actively, his presence is still a source of inspiration for all party workers," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.

Scores of BJP workers and supporters carrying bouquets had come to greet Vajpayee. Vajpayee has not been keeping well for sometime now.

Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha Karia Munda, Uttarakhand Chief Minister BC Khanduri, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi and BJP leader Najma Heptullah also greeted Vajpayee.

"Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a statesman of international stature. The country made progress under his able guidance, and there was no corruption or scandals," Gadkari said at the rally here.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir unit of BJP today passed a resolution demanding Bharat Ratna to Vajpayee.

Party workers in Jammu also distributed an 87-kg 'laddoo' on the occasion of Vajpayee's birthday.

Justifying the party's demand for Bharat Ratna to Vajpayee, J&K BJP chief Shamsher Singh Manhas said the six-year rule of BJP-led NDA under the leadership of Vajpayee had brought a revolution in the country in all fields.