Vajpayee popularity more than Indira Gandhi

Taken from this India Today Article

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/charisma-that-binds-atal-bihari-vajpayee-outshines-indira-gandhi/1/247608.html

Charisma that binds: Moderate Vajpayee outshines aggressive and decisive Indira Gandhi as India's best PM

Dhiraj Nayyar  | January 25, 2013 | 17:33

Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi (Right), Atal Bihari Vajpayee India's voters denied Atal Bihari Vajpayee a second consecutive five-year term as prime minister in 2004,  but his popularity has only increased since he left office. In our January 2013 poll, for the first time,  Vajpayee has overtaken Indira Gandhi as the most preferred Indian prime minister of all time.  The outcome is somewhat counter-intuitive. India is passing through a phase of very weak national leadership across the political spectrum. In such a context, the strong and decisive Indira Gandhi would  have been an obvious favourite from the past. But respondents have chosen the genial and conciliatory Vajpayee. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi Perhaps a nation in crisis is looking for a man of stature and a man of consensus to taper over the several political faultiness that have paralysed governance. Vajpayee, after all, ran a giant, inclusive 22-party coalition for six years with considerably greater ease than Manmohan Singh or Sonia Gandhi has managed (with fewer allies) in either UPA 1 or UPA 2. For the UPA, coalition politics is only a ruse to justify various acts of misgovernance. Vajpayee's NDA, on the other hand, pushed through several tough reforms which in fact benefited UPA 1 by delivering rapid growth. In an era which is likely to be defined by coalition politics and not single-party rule,  a leader needs to carry different voices with him or her, something Indira Gandhi may not have   managed had she not led a single-party government. What also goes in Vajpayee's favour was his ability to rise above the narrow interests of either BJP or RSS. Much like Indira Gandhi, he was larger than the party he belonged to. Importantly, his geniality was never a mask for unprincipled compromise. His leadership style has several lessons for aspirants in both BJP and Congress. BJP 's frontrunner Narendra Modi must learn from Vajpayee the art of inclusive politics and the value of humility in public life. Rahul Gandhi, the frontrunner for Congress, must learn the skills of treating allies as equal partners, not inconvenient subordinates.

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Excellent Poem on Pakistan by Vajpayee

Some more...statements/quotes

• Truth cannot be hidden for fear that somebody would exploit it.
• For us Kashmir is not a pawn on the political chessboard. It is also not a part of cold war for us. It is a part and parcel of that very land my feet is standing upon.
• If Pakistan talks about Muslim genocide in Kashmir, we should talk about Hindu genocide in East Pakistan.
• The Home Minister said he is going to remove corruption in 2 years. Why 2 years? Why not 1 year? Why not 1.5 year? Which astrologer has given the home minister this date? I would like to consult and find out how long is this minister going to be in power?
• One minister told to a news reporter he cannot take bribe as he has taken the pledge. His wife can take it because she has not pledged any oath. So, does that mean when ministers take oath, even their wives must be asked to do so?
• We did not raise the slogans of "Tamil Murdabad" in Delhi, but Annadurai raised the slogan of "Hindi Murdabad" in Madras.
• I dream one day India and Pakistan would come together. If there can be a dream of united Germany, united Korea, united Vietnam, why can't be there a dream of a united India? But it cannot be fulfilled by force. It must be by change of heart.
• Shri Morarji Desai said he was thrown out of the cabinet like a piece of vegetable. I said to him - what else can you expect of a kitchen cabinet? Vegetables and kitchen cabinet go together.
• A few days ago COngress President Jagjivan Ram had said that we do not want to take away the right to property. But yesterday Smt. Savitri Shyam said this right must be removed from the Constitution. I cannot understand how this pair of Ram and Shyam from the same party speak in different voices.
• "Ekoham dwithiyo nasti" - I am the only one, there is none other. When this feeling comes it leads a person to dictatorship. Smt. Indira Gandhi must be aware of this.
• Communalism is a double edged sword. You cannot fan the flames of communalism on one hand and put them on the other.
• Like a snake charmer who keeps his snakes in a box this government keeps its problems hidden in a box and thinks they have ended (referring to Indira Gandhi govt). When the lid is removed these problems raise their hood.
• It is easy to win elections by raising slogan of "garibi hatao" but slogans do not remove poverty.
• Experience shows us that wherever there is a delay in the decision making process or unlimited discretion in decision-making powers, there is corruption. Therefore, we have been focusing on cutting back delays in the decision making as well as implementing processes.

Famous ones..collection

Reply to Lok Sabha, May 29, 1998:
"In 50 years, this country which has always given message of peace and has never sought anybody's territory has been attacked thrice. A nation of 100 crores cannot depend on charity for its national security."

I want to refer Mr. Deve Gowda to the 1996 JD Manifesto. "We will formally give a pledge of no first use of nuclear capability to Pakistan." I say to him that you have to first develop this capability before you can offer this pledge. There was a general consensus on developing this capability. The question was "when".
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Reporter: What message do you have tonight for Benazir Bhutto?
Vajpayee: Is there any harm if I send the message tomorrow morning?
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Goel(A reporter): What was your most bitter moment in life?
Vajpayee: When I was slapped by a teacher for being naughty (Shararat karne per mar padi).
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Goel(a reporter): What made you come to the highest office in India? Who do you attribute this success to?
Vajpayee: Destiny (Bhagya)
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Goel: Who is your favourite Indian leader?
Vajpayee: Our first Prime Minister Shri Nehruji

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Goel: Why did you not marry?
Vajpayee: I didn't find time to marry
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Goel: What was the most thrilling moment in life?
Vajpayee: When President Shankar Dayal Sharma called me to form the government despite our party being in a minority
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Goel: What is your most favourite place in the world?
Vajpayee: Manali, almora in India and Vancouver in Canada
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Most admirable moment:
Vajpayee: When I gave a speech in Shudh Hindi at 32 UN General Assembly
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On Pakistan's offer of friendship, Vajpayee was asked to comment:
PADOSI KEHTE HAIN KI EK HAATH SE TALLI NAHIN BAJTI, - HUMNE KAHA KI CHUTKI TO BAJ SAKTI HAI
(He was indirectly telling ek chutki se Pakistan ko terrorist camps ko maar dena hai)
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In Parliament,
Ram Vilas Paswan: Bjp bahut ram ki baatein karti hai.. par unmein koi ram nahi hai.. mera naam tho ram hi hai

Vajpayee: "Paswan ji, HARAM mein bhi Raam Hota hai"
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In Parliament on 27 may 1998:

India is now a nuclear weapon state. This is a reality that cannot be denied. It is not a conferment that we seek; nor is it a status for others to grant. It is an endowment to the nation by our scientists and engineers.

It is India's due, the right of one-sixth of human-kind.

We have not violated any international agreement either in 1974 or now, in 1998. The restraint exercised for 24 years, after having demonstrated our capability in 1974, is in itself a unique example. Restraint, however, has to arise from strength. It cannot be based upon indecision or doubt.

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Vajpayee's interview to India Today's Prabhu Chawla:
The world community should appreciate the fact that India, the second-most populous country on earth, waited for five decades before taking this step.

I would, therefore, say that the greatest meaning of the tests is that they have given India shakti, they have given India strength, they have given India self-confidence.

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Q : Will your party exploit this for political mileage?

Vajpayee: Indian democracy's greatest strength is that we have always put the nation above
politics. It happened during Indira Gandhi's time, when India first conducted the nuclear test in 1974. My own party, then the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, and other opposition parties were at the time engaged in a major political campaign against Indira Gandhi. But that fact didn't in the least prevent us from supporting the government on the issue of the nuclear test.

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Also, we should not forget that a visionary like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru understood the importance of nuclear science and gave full personal support to the founding of a world-class nuclear establishment. All the prime ministers who followed him have continued to support India's indigenous research and development in the nuclear field. What we are doing today is to build the superstructure on that solid foundation.

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Vote of Confidence in 1999 when Vajpayee lost by one vote because of Jayalalitha:

In my public life in the Opposition never has any allegation been made against me that I have acted against the National Interest. So how can it be that all of sudden I am accused of the same ? Has being in power changed me so drastically ? Does power corrupt to this degree ? If such accusations can be made of me with merely 13 months in power, what of those who have been in power for 40 years ?

13 months are a short period of time, but we have left our foot prints in the sands time in an indelible manner to be preserved for posterity. Their consequences can be debated and criticized but can never be shrouded into irrelevance.

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Lata's voice for Geet Naya Gaata Hoon

The beautiful poem is below:

टूटे हुए तारों से फूटे बासंती स्वर
पत्थर की छाती मे उग आया नव अंकुर
झरे सब पीले पात
कोयल की कुहुक रात
प्राची मे अरुणिम की रेख देख पता हूँ
गीत नया गाता हूँ

टूटे हुए सपनों की कौन सुने सिसकी
अन्तर की चीर व्यथा पलको पर ठिठकी

हार नहीं मानूँगा,
रार नई ठानूँगा,
काल के कपाल पे लिखता मिटाता हूँ
गीत नया गाता हूँ

Samvedna

Vajpayee's letter to Clinton after 1998 tests

Taken from http://www.rediff.com/news/1998/may/13bomb2.htm

Dear Mr President

You would already be aware of the underground nuclear tests carried out in India. In this letter, I would like to explain the rationale for the tests.

I have been deeply concerned at the deteriorating security environment, specially the nuclear environment, faced by India for some years past. We have an overt nuclear weapon state on our borders, a state which committed armed aggression against India in 1962. Although our relations with that country have improved in the last decade or so, an atmosphere of distrust persists mainly due to the unresolved border problem. To add to the distrust, that country has materially helped another neighbour of ours to become a covert nuclear weapons state. At the hands of this bitter neighbour we have suffered three aggressions in the last 50 years. And for the last ten years we have been the victim of unremitting terrorism and militancy sponsored by it in several parts of our country, specially Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. Fortunately, the faith of the people in our democratic system, as also their patriotism, has enabled India to counter the activities of the terrorists and militants aided and abetted from abroad.

The series of tests are limited in number and pose no danger to any country which has no inimical intentions towards India. We value our friendship and co-operation with your country, and you personally. We hope that you will show understanding of our concern for India's security.

I assure you that India will continue to work with your country in a multilateral or bilateral framework to promote the cause of nuclear disarmament. Our commitment to participate in non-discriminatory and verifiable global disarmament measures is amply demonstrated by our adherence to the two conventions on Biological and Chemical Weapons. In particular, we are ready to participate in the negotiations to be held in Geneva in the Conference on Disarmament for the conclusion of a fissile material cut-off treaty.

I enclose for your information the text of the press statement issued after the nuclear tests were carried out today. I close with the expression of my highest consideration for your country and yourself.

Yours sincerely,

A B Vajpayee