IANS
New Delhi

President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday led the nation in greeting ailing former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 91st birthday.
“Warm greetings and good wishes to Vajpayee on his birthday. May he be blessed with good health, happiness and a long fruitful life,” the president said in a message.
Modi too extended birthday greetings. “We salute this great personality who provided exceptional leadership to India at a crucial time.
“Be it as a party leader, parliamentarian, minister, prime minister, Vajpayee distinguished himself in every role. This is his speciality,” Modi said.
One of India’s most popular politicians, Vajpayee was prime minister three times - first in 1996 (May 16-31) and later for two consecutive stints between March 19, 1998 and May 13, 2004.
In the latter two stints, he headed the National Democratic Alliance governments led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), of which he is the founder.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also hailed the BJP veteran: “In a diverse country like ours, Vajpayee is a shining example of tolerance and inspiration for taking everyone along in the public life.”
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also saluted Vajpayee.
“Vajpayeeji has always been a source of inspiration to me. I pray for his happy and healthy life,” Raman Singh said.
Chouhan said Vajpayee was a politician who would not mind taking a two-wheeler or an autorickshaw to reach a venue. “And wherever he went, he won people’s confidence.”
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said: “A very happy birthday to Vajpayee Sahib. A great human being and an amazing prime minister to work for.”