"Celebrations are medium to express gratitude to great men": UP CM Yogi Adityanath

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], December 25 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday spoke about the celebrations marking former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's 100th birthday, stating that these events are a medium for people to express their gratitude to the great men of the country.
Adityanath's comments came during a series of events marking the centenary of Vajpayee, which included a special poetry recital and the unveiling of a statue of the revered leader by the Chief Minister and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
"The celebrations are a medium for all of us to express our gratitude to the great men so that we can inspire the coming generation to follow those paths. Atal Vajpayee was a great poet and his poems have been very famous. A poetry recital was also organized for him. I am happy that the youth took a lot of interest in it..." Adityanath said while addressing the people and the media.
During the celebrations, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also unveiled a statue of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Earlier in the day, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid tribute to the former Prime Minister, stating that his governance was appreciated worldwide.
"Atal Bihari Vajpayee's governance was appreciated all over the world... his good governance has brought the country to where it is today and he showed on how we can achieve good governance. The government of America has also said that if one wants to see good governance they should come to India.. be it Atal's government or Narendra Modi's government, we have achieved good governance today.." Singh said while addressing the media.
He further added that good governance can only be achieved when it fulfills the body, mind, wealth, and soul.
"Governance can only be called good when it fulfills the body, mind, money and the soul. The Uttar Pradesh government has proved a good governance. In the last eight years, India has brought 25 crore people out of poverty line... this is good governance. Our Prime Minister has fulfilled all his duties.. good education, employment and so many other schemes have been introduced for the people..." the Defence Minister added.
Vajpayee served as the Prime Minister of India in two terms--from May 16, 1996, to June 1, 1996, and from March 19, 1998, to May 22, 2004.
He also served as India's External Affairs Minister in the cabinet of Prime Minister Morarji Desai from 1977 to 1979. Vajpayee passed away on August 16, 2018, at AIIMS Hospital in Delhi. (ANI)