PM Narendra Modi, on Monday, released a commemorative coin- Rs 100 in honour of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who passed away this year. The coin was released a day before Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s 94th birth anniversary.
Earlier, there were reports that the government would launch a new 100-rupee coin presenting the image of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The report added that the coin will weigh 35 grams, which will have a portrait of Atal Bihari Vajpayee on one side of the coin and on the other side, it will have the Lion Capitol of Ashoka Pillar in the centre with “Satyameva Jayate” inscribed below as per the Devanagari script.
Speaking at a significant event to release the coin in the memory of Atal Bihari Vajpayee PM Modi said, “The mind is not ready to believe that Atal Ji is no longer with us. He was a stalwart loved and respected across all sections of society.”
“As a speaker, he was unparalleled. He is among the best orators our nation has produced,” PM Modi added. “The party which Atalji built has become among the largest political parties. Generations of Karyakartas were fortunate to be mentored by him.”
PM @narendramodi releases commemorative coin in memory of former PM #AtalBihariVajpayee pic.twitter.com/q1l4HJAYtG
— PIB India (@PIB_India) December 24, 2018
Apart from PM Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Minister of State for Culture Mahesh Sharma, BJP national president Amit Shah and veteran BJP leader and Vajpayee’s contemporary LK Advani attended the event to release a coin in the memory of the late Indian leader.
The reverse side of the coin shows a portrait of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his name inscribed in both Devanagari as well as Roman. The years 1924 and 2018 are inscribed below Vajpayee’s portrait to remember the year of his birth and death respectively.
Speaking at the event this morning, PM Narendra Modi said Vajpayee “never compromised” on the BJP’s principles and was not hungry for power, PM Modi said.
“For some people, power is oxygen… they can’t live without it. A long part of Atal Ji’s career was spent in the opposition benches but he spoke about national interest and never compromised on the ideology of the party,” PM Modi said.
“He built the Jana Sangh but when the time came to rescue our democracy he and others went to Janata Party. Likewise, when the choice was between remaining in power or comprising on ideology, he left Janata Party and formed the BJP,” PM Modi also said.
(With inputs from India Today)
