Being Prime Minister of India - Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Tenure:-
1) 16 May 1996 To 1 June 1996. 16 Days.
2) 19 March 1998 To 22 May 2004. 6 Years 64 Days.
Party: - BHARTIYA JANATA PARTY.
Family and Political Background:-
Atal Bihari Vajpayee was born on 25 December 1924 in Gwalior. He completed his school education from the Government Higher Secondary School, Gorkhi, Bara, and Gwalior. He did his graduation from Gwalior’s Victoria College which is now Laxmi Bai College. He had graduated with distinction in 3 languages, Hindi, English and Sanskrit. He completed his post-graduation with an M.A. in Political Science from Dayanand Anglo-Vedic College, Kanpur, and was awarded a first-class degree.
His political career was started in 1951 with Bhartiya Jana Sangh in association with Syama Prasad Mookerjee. He became the national president of the Jana Sangh in 1968 and, along with Nanaji Deshmukh, Balraj Madhok and L. K. Advani, led the Jana Sangh to national prominence.
Vajpayee was also arrested during Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi during 1975 to 1977. He was the Minister of External Affairs in Prime Minister Morarji Desai's cabinet. As foreign minister, that year Vajpayee became the first person to deliver a speech to the United Nations General Assembly in Hindi.
Vajpayee joined with his long-time friends L. K. Advani and Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, to form the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1980. He became the BJP's first President. During Bhartiya Janata Party conference in Mumbai in November 1995, President L.K. Advani declared that Vajpayee would become the Prime Minister of India. The BJP won in the May 1996 parliamentary elections. Atal Bihari Vajpayee has been Prime Minister for 3 times.
Most interesting point is Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a predicted Prime Minister. India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was so impressed with Vajpayee’s oratorical skills that he had predicted Vajpayee would someday become India’s Prime Minister.
Work Performance:-
During first term of Prime Minister Vajpayee has only 13 days. So he could do nothing. In general election 1996, Bhartiya Janata Party for the first time became a single largest party with 161 seats. President called Vajpayee to form government but due to not having majority he has to resign.
After two government of United Front between 1996 and 1998, fresh general election held. Again Bhartiya Janata Party came out with largest party. This time some other party came forward to tie with BJP and formed the government (National Democratic Alliance-NDA). Atal Bihari Vajpayee became second time Prime Minister. But again on 17 April 1999, AIADMK- J. Jayalalitha withdrew its support and government collapsed. Opposition was not united and they are not able to form government, another general election held in 1999.
For second term Vajpayee got only 13 months but during this short term he has shown his performance quite well. Vajpayee shows his intensions without Fear and he become Dear to Indian people.
In May 1998, India conducted five underground nuclear tests in Pokhran, Rajasthan desert. This was after 24 years after the first test in 1974. Most important thing was the Tests were held just after a month of forming government. Some nation like United States, Canada, Japan, Britain and the European Union imposed many restrictions. They imposed sanctions on information, resources and technology to India. Some nations like Russia and France favoured for India’s right to defensive nuclear power. In spite of the intense international criticism and the steady decline in foreign investment and trade, the nuclear tests were popular domestically.
The Lahore Summit and Kargil War:-
Vajpayee initiated a new peace process with Pakistan with his historic Delhi-Lahore Bus Service in February 1999 towards permanently resolving disputes on many issues. The resultant Lahore Declaration espoused a commitment to dialogue, expanded trade relations and mutual friendship and envisaged a goal of denuclearised South Asia. But as normal Pakistan responded with backstab imposing on India – the Kargil war. Indian Army once again gave a lesson to Pakistan with Operation Vijay.
Additionally, due to Vajpayee’s administration, international sanctions due to nuclear test completely failed. The victory in Kargil and good administration after international sanctions bolstered the image of Vajpayee and he was hailed across the country for his bold and strong leadership.
However, in May 1999, the AIADMK did pull the plug on the NDA, and the Vajpayee administration was reduced to a caretaker status pending fresh elections scheduled for October 1999.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee led NDA won this general election getting 303 seats in 1999 and once again he became Prime Minister of India.
Third term:-
This was the third time he has been Prime Minister of India. This term was full of action, activities and achievements as far as Atal Bihari Vajpayee and India is concern.
Vajpayee introduced many economic and infrastructural reforms. He encouraged the private sector and foreign investment also. He focused n reducing governmental wastages, encouraging research and development. He also focused on privatisation of some government corporations.
National Highway Development Project:-
This was a project for upgrading major highways of India with rehabilitating and widening. Project was managed by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways.
Phase I namely The Golden Quadrilateral, connecting the Four Metro Cities of Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai, about 5846 kms was started to boost economic development within the country. This project was completed by 2011.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee government (NDA) should be credited for such a great initiative. Even The UPA Government on 1 July 2013 has accepted before Supreme Court that Government led by Vajpayee has developed half of the roads in just 5-year term of last 32 years. Means Vajpayee government had built 50% of roads in 5 years which have been built in last 32 years.
The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), nationwide plan to provide good all-weather road connectivity to unconnected villages has also been started by Vajpayee government.
In March 2000, Bill Clinton, the President of the United States, paid a state visit to India. His was the first state visit to India by a US President in 22 years. The Historic Vision Document on the future course of relations between the two countries was signed by Prime Minister Vajpayee and President Clinton during the visit.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee has carried forward and promoted pro-business, free market reforms to reinvigorate India's economic transformation and expansion that were started by the former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao but stalled after 1996 due to unstable governments and the 1997 Asian financial crisis. He also increased competitiveness, extra funding and support for the information technology sector and high-tech industries, improvements in infrastructure, deregulation of trade, investments and corporate laws all increased foreign capital investment and set in motion an economic expansion.
Miss:-
Indian Airlines hijack
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 Maulana Masood Azhar from prison. Under extreme pressure, the government ultimately caved in. Jaswant Singh, the Minister for External Affairs at the time, flew with the terrorists to Afghanistan and exchanged them for the passengers.
But we can’t say it was a miss or mistake as this was a quite out of his control. He has selected this exchange for the safety of people only for he was more concerned. And I think anybody could not have done something much different under such circumstances.
Overall performance of Atal Bihari Vajpayee was very good with good governance and by no major mistakes. His term was amongst the best terms of any Prime Minister of India. He has completed term as a first non-congress and a first coalition government. It was his initiative to connect remote villages to highways and it open up possibilities for rural areas to get connected to developed cities.
The GDP growth figures that were attained under Atalji’s leadership can never be called a small achievement as the figures were achieved despite many adverse factors like a devastating earthquake in 2001; two catastrophic cyclones in 1999 and 2000; the worst drought in thirty years during 2002-2003; the Gulf War II and resultant oil crisis in 2003; the Kargil conflict of 1999; and one stand-off during 2001-02; continued cross-border terrorist actions like the attack on the Parliament in Delhi in the year 2001 as well as Kaluchak Camp May 2002; and to top it all the economic sanctions laid by the US post the nuclear tests of 1998.
A poet cum politician Vajpayee is a great person at all. He is being respected by opposition leader also. Manmohan Singh has called him Bhishm Pitamah of Indian Politics.
Even after a successful campaign of India Shining, Atal Bihari Vajpayee led government lost in general election in 2004 and Sonia Gandhi led UPA made government.
Tenure:-
1) 16 May 1996 To 1 June 1996. 16 Days.
2) 19 March 1998 To 22 May 2004. 6 Years 64 Days.
Party: - BHARTIYA JANATA PARTY.
Family and Political Background:-
Atal Bihari Vajpayee was born on 25 December 1924 in Gwalior. He completed his school education from the Government Higher Secondary School, Gorkhi, Bara, and Gwalior. He did his graduation from Gwalior’s Victoria College which is now Laxmi Bai College. He had graduated with distinction in 3 languages, Hindi, English and Sanskrit. He completed his post-graduation with an M.A. in Political Science from Dayanand Anglo-Vedic College, Kanpur, and was awarded a first-class degree.
His political career was started in 1951 with Bhartiya Jana Sangh in association with Syama Prasad Mookerjee. He became the national president of the Jana Sangh in 1968 and, along with Nanaji Deshmukh, Balraj Madhok and L. K. Advani, led the Jana Sangh to national prominence.
Vajpayee was also arrested during Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi during 1975 to 1977. He was the Minister of External Affairs in Prime Minister Morarji Desai's cabinet. As foreign minister, that year Vajpayee became the first person to deliver a speech to the United Nations General Assembly in Hindi.
Vajpayee joined with his long-time friends L. K. Advani and Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, to form the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1980. He became the BJP's first President. During Bhartiya Janata Party conference in Mumbai in November 1995, President L.K. Advani declared that Vajpayee would become the Prime Minister of India. The BJP won in the May 1996 parliamentary elections. Atal Bihari Vajpayee has been Prime Minister for 3 times.
Most interesting point is Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a predicted Prime Minister. India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was so impressed with Vajpayee’s oratorical skills that he had predicted Vajpayee would someday become India’s Prime Minister.
Work Performance:-
During first term of Prime Minister Vajpayee has only 13 days. So he could do nothing. In general election 1996, Bhartiya Janata Party for the first time became a single largest party with 161 seats. President called Vajpayee to form government but due to not having majority he has to resign.
After two government of United Front between 1996 and 1998, fresh general election held. Again Bhartiya Janata Party came out with largest party. This time some other party came forward to tie with BJP and formed the government (National Democratic Alliance-NDA). Atal Bihari Vajpayee became second time Prime Minister. But again on 17 April 1999, AIADMK- J. Jayalalitha withdrew its support and government collapsed. Opposition was not united and they are not able to form government, another general election held in 1999.
For second term Vajpayee got only 13 months but during this short term he has shown his performance quite well. Vajpayee shows his intensions without Fear and he become Dear to Indian people.
In May 1998, India conducted five underground nuclear tests in Pokhran, Rajasthan desert. This was after 24 years after the first test in 1974. Most important thing was the Tests were held just after a month of forming government. Some nation like United States, Canada, Japan, Britain and the European Union imposed many restrictions. They imposed sanctions on information, resources and technology to India. Some nations like Russia and France favoured for India’s right to defensive nuclear power. In spite of the intense international criticism and the steady decline in foreign investment and trade, the nuclear tests were popular domestically.
The Lahore Summit and Kargil War:-
Vajpayee initiated a new peace process with Pakistan with his historic Delhi-Lahore Bus Service in February 1999 towards permanently resolving disputes on many issues. The resultant Lahore Declaration espoused a commitment to dialogue, expanded trade relations and mutual friendship and envisaged a goal of denuclearised South Asia. But as normal Pakistan responded with backstab imposing on India – the Kargil war. Indian Army once again gave a lesson to Pakistan with Operation Vijay.
Additionally, due to Vajpayee’s administration, international sanctions due to nuclear test completely failed. The victory in Kargil and good administration after international sanctions bolstered the image of Vajpayee and he was hailed across the country for his bold and strong leadership.
However, in May 1999, the AIADMK did pull the plug on the NDA, and the Vajpayee administration was reduced to a caretaker status pending fresh elections scheduled for October 1999.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee led NDA won this general election getting 303 seats in 1999 and once again he became Prime Minister of India.
Third term:-
This was the third time he has been Prime Minister of India. This term was full of action, activities and achievements as far as Atal Bihari Vajpayee and India is concern.
Vajpayee introduced many economic and infrastructural reforms. He encouraged the private sector and foreign investment also. He focused n reducing governmental wastages, encouraging research and development. He also focused on privatisation of some government corporations.
National Highway Development Project:-
This was a project for upgrading major highways of India with rehabilitating and widening. Project was managed by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways.
Phase I namely The Golden Quadrilateral, connecting the Four Metro Cities of Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai, about 5846 kms was started to boost economic development within the country. This project was completed by 2011.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee government (NDA) should be credited for such a great initiative. Even The UPA Government on 1 July 2013 has accepted before Supreme Court that Government led by Vajpayee has developed half of the roads in just 5-year term of last 32 years. Means Vajpayee government had built 50% of roads in 5 years which have been built in last 32 years.
The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), nationwide plan to provide good all-weather road connectivity to unconnected villages has also been started by Vajpayee government.
In March 2000, Bill Clinton, the President of the United States, paid a state visit to India. His was the first state visit to India by a US President in 22 years. The Historic Vision Document on the future course of relations between the two countries was signed by Prime Minister Vajpayee and President Clinton during the visit.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee has carried forward and promoted pro-business, free market reforms to reinvigorate India's economic transformation and expansion that were started by the former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao but stalled after 1996 due to unstable governments and the 1997 Asian financial crisis. He also increased competitiveness, extra funding and support for the information technology sector and high-tech industries, improvements in infrastructure, deregulation of trade, investments and corporate laws all increased foreign capital investment and set in motion an economic expansion.
Miss:-
Indian Airlines hijack
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 Maulana Masood Azhar from prison. Under extreme pressure, the government ultimately caved in. Jaswant Singh, the Minister for External Affairs at the time, flew with the terrorists to Afghanistan and exchanged them for the passengers.
But we can’t say it was a miss or mistake as this was a quite out of his control. He has selected this exchange for the safety of people only for he was more concerned. And I think anybody could not have done something much different under such circumstances.
Overall performance of Atal Bihari Vajpayee was very good with good governance and by no major mistakes. His term was amongst the best terms of any Prime Minister of India. He has completed term as a first non-congress and a first coalition government. It was his initiative to connect remote villages to highways and it open up possibilities for rural areas to get connected to developed cities.
The GDP growth figures that were attained under Atalji’s leadership can never be called a small achievement as the figures were achieved despite many adverse factors like a devastating earthquake in 2001; two catastrophic cyclones in 1999 and 2000; the worst drought in thirty years during 2002-2003; the Gulf War II and resultant oil crisis in 2003; the Kargil conflict of 1999; and one stand-off during 2001-02; continued cross-border terrorist actions like the attack on the Parliament in Delhi in the year 2001 as well as Kaluchak Camp May 2002; and to top it all the economic sanctions laid by the US post the nuclear tests of 1998.
A poet cum politician Vajpayee is a great person at all. He is being respected by opposition leader also. Manmohan Singh has called him Bhishm Pitamah of Indian Politics.
Even after a successful campaign of India Shining, Atal Bihari Vajpayee led government lost in general election in 2004 and Sonia Gandhi led UPA made government.
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