Life-size portrait of Vajpayee unveiled in Parliament's Central Hall

New Delhi [India], Feb 12 (ANI): A life-size portrait of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was on Tuesday unveiled in the Central Hall of Parliament where President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid rich tributes to the late BJP leader.
The decision of install the portrait of the Bharat Ratna awardee was taken on December 18 at a meeting of Parliament’s Portrait Committee chaired Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.
Speaking at the event in the Central Hall, President Ram Nath Kovind said Vajpayee “offered decisive leadership under challenging circumstances. The 1998 nuclear test in Pokhran and the Kargil War of 1999 are classic examples. These decisions were taken in the interest of the nation".
"Atal ji will always be remembered as a great politician of India. His spontaneity and dignity in accepting victory and defeat are exemplary. He will be remembered for being patient in the tough situations," the President said.
"Atal ji made initiatives so that the rivers and other water resources can be utilised properly by the people. With the help of Golden Quadrilateral Highway network, Atal ji eased the linking of the states within the country. He (Atal Ji) also provided homes to basic-income people by encouraging housing schemes. The I-T sector also boomed during his tenure," Kovind.
"In addition, he also implemented schemes for the uplift of brave soldiers, hard-working farners and committed scientists," he added.
Lauding Vajpayee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Atal ji had a long political career, a large part of which was spent in the Opposition. Yet, he continued raising issues of public interest and never ever deviated from his ideology."
"There was power in Atal Ji's speech and there was equal power in Atal Ji's silence. His communication skills were unparalleled. He had a great sense of humour," the Prime Minister said.
The event was also attended by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Union ministers and leaders of various political parties.  
Portraits of leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi adorn the Central Hall of Parliament.
Vajpayee, a towering BJP leader, was the Prime Minister thrice – first for 13 days in 1996, then for 13 months from 1998 to 1999, and then from 1999 to 2004.
Born on December 25, 1924 in Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, the BJP veteran passed away on August 16 last year after a prolonged illness.
On December 24 last year, the eve of Vajpayee’s 94th birthday, Prime Minister Modi had released a commemorative coin in memory of the late leader. 
The commemorative coin has the Emblem of India on one side and on the other side, Vajpayee’s picture with his name inscribed in Devanagari and Roman languages. (ANI)