(Image source from: intoday.in)

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s life-size portrait unveiled at the Central Hall of the Parliament by the President Ram Nath Kovind today.

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Ministers and leaders of various parties were present during the event.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was born on December 25, 1924, in Gwalior, and had served as the Prime Minister thrice in his long political life.

He was conferred Bharat Ratna in 2015 by then President Pranab Mukherjee.

He passed away in August last year at the age of 93 after a prolonged illness.

The decision to install the portrait of the Bharat Ratna was taken in December during the meeting of Parliament's Portrait Committee chaired by the Lok Sabha Speaker.

#PresidentKovind unveils portrait of late PM #AtalBihariVajpayee in Parliament. pic.twitter.com/lqODALfg6G

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) February 12, 2019

Speaking at the event, PM Narendra Modi said, “Atal Ji had a long political career, a large part of that career was spent in opposition. Yet, he continued raising issues of public interest and never ever deviated from his ideology.”

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said, “Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji will be remembered because there was criticism in his words for opposition but in his heart, there was no anger against opposition.”

Former Prime Minister’s portrait had been prepared by the renowned artist Krishn Kanhai of Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh.

-Sai Kumar