Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla paid floral tribute to former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, on his death anniversary at the historic Ridge in Shimla. While remembering Vajpayee, the Governor highlighted his legacy as a great leader, statesman and a politician who always upheld high moral values throughout his career.
He said that Vajpayee was a towering figure in Indian politics, a leader who was loved by the entire nation. His words, “A small heart can never achieve greatness and a broken heart can never stand tall”, were even more pertinent in today’s political landscape. It is only with a generous heart that true service to society can be rendered. Vajpayee always prioritized the nation’s interests and unity. He said that the progress India was making towards becoming a developed nation was a continuation of the vision and the groundwork as laid by Atal Ji.
On the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri and Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur also paid floral tribute to Atal Ji. MLA Balbir Verma, Mayor Surinder Chauhan, Deputy Mayor Uma Kaushal, former Minister Suresh Bhardwaj, Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap, Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Gandhi, and various officers from the district administration were also present on the occasion.
Patriotic songs and bhajans were recited during the ceremony, adding to the solemnity of the occasion. The Governor, along with Raj Bhavan officials, also paid tributes to Vajpayee’s portrait at Raj Bhavan, Shimla.
Later, while interacting with the officers of district administration, the Governor called for a massive campaign against drug abuse to be initiated at the district level. He proposed that the campaign be launched from Shimla itself, of which he will also be a part. He said that a programme would soon be organized with the representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions at district level to take concrete steps for fighting drug menace.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
