Atal Bihari Vajpayee did a lot in his time as a statesmanship, he was the person who made the bridge that enabled India to transit from the Left of Centre politics to Centre-Right. All he commanded was admitation and adulation of all.

The outpouring of grief across the country and across the political spectrum following the demise of Atal Bihari Vajpayee was indicative of how well he had endeared himself to the people during his long innings in politics that had made him truly an Ajatshatru (one without an enemy).

It was this winsome nature of his which enabled the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which, unlike him, was virtually friendless to later acquire allies and even dislodge the Congress from its perch. He, therefore, played a critical role in ensuring the smooth transition at the federal level from Centre-Left to Centre-Right. When Vajpayee took oath as the Prime Minister after the Lok Sabha election in 1996, he was perceived by the media to be India’s first “right wing” Prime Minister. He headed the single largest party but did not enjoy a majority in the House. His Government lasted just 13 days. But Vajpayee knew that this was just for starters — a kind of a practice session. Although the party was the single largest party, the BJP was regarded as “untouchable” by other political parties and, therefore, found it difficult to cobble up a coalition for a stable Government. The lessons from this defeat were not lost on the party. Therefore, when the United Front Government collapsed and a fresh Lok Sabha poll was called in March, 1998, a lot of background work was done to overcome the deficiencies of 1996.

Vajpayee sent his emissaries around and succeeded in ending the “untouchability” stigma that the party suffered from. Leaders of many disparate parties backed him and found him to be a moderate leader. In no time, Vajpayee demolished fears in the minds of his coalition partners about associating with a “right wing” party. He made the “untouchable” in Indian politics eminently touchable and the party, which had a horde of shatrus (enemies), now had 23 allies!

This became possible because Vajpayee had genuine respect for smaller parties and regional forces and, hence, struck a good equation with Karunanidhi, Mamata Bannerjee and Naveen Patnaik and many other regional leaders. He also saw merit in the regional aspirations of people from Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand regions and, therefore, facilitated the emergence of the new, smaller States — without any bloodshed or violence. It was Vajpayee’s statesmanship that enabled the smooth bifurcation of three big States — Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. This was quite in contrast to the muddled approach of the Congress and United Progressive Alliance  (UPA), which led to the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and the emergence of Telangana and the extent of violence that preceded the creation of the new State.

Vajpayee was a great admirer of Jawaharlal Nehru. In fact, it is said that Nehru had spotted his potential even in Vajpayee’s first term in the Lok Sabha and even introduced him as a future leader of the country to some foreign guests. Nehru’s influence tempered Vajpayee and although he came from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-Jan Sangh stock — he gained acceptability from parties on the other side of the political divide. Therefore, many saw him as a Nehru of the Right Wing. When he wrote the poem, Kadam Milakar Chalna Hoga (We must walk in step), it was not just a day-dream of an idle poet — it conveyed the liberal inner voice of a true democrat.

While Vajpayee retained this liberal approach to politics, he was unrelenting when it came to national interest. That is why he was keen to make India a nuclear state and it is said that he had discussed this with nuclear scientists even during his 13-day Government in 1996. Prime Minister Narasimha Rao was keen to conduct the tests during his tenure from 1991-96. However, he had to hold his hand because somehow the Americans had got wind of it and he did not want to antagonise them. He needed the United States during the process of liberalising the Indian economy, which was in tatters when he took charge.

Narasimha Rao had acknowledged that he regarded Vajpayee as his guru. Anyway, Atal Bihari Vajpayee had been fully briefed by Rao in regard to the readiness of Indian nuclear scientists. It was, therefore, no surprise that Vajpayee went ahead with the nuclear tests in May 1998, when he returned as the Prime Minister heading a coalition of many disparate parties.

The nuclear tests skyrocketed India to the status of a major nuclear power but Americans were indignant and imposed sanctions. American President Bill Clinton was angrily wagging his finger and accusing India of escalating the nuclear race but Vajpayee stood his ground. He knew that the Americans would soon realise that India was a huge market and he sent his Minister Jaswant Singh to talk to the Americans and to bring them round and eventually succeeded in restoring Indo-US ties.

Pokhran–II showed the true Atal Bihari — a gutsy, strong leader who was confident that he would eventually bring the Western world to accept India’s new status. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s approach to international relations is largely in line with Vajpayee’s approach.

Unlike the humming and hawing of the Centre-Left establishment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policy is far more muscular and has given India its rightful place at the high table in international politics.

Vajpayee was a strong leader who handed his responsibility with a lot of tact and firmness. That is why India comprehensively defeated Pakistan in the Kargil War. He also stepped up investment in infrastructure in a big way, opened up the telecom and transport sectors and laid the foundations for spectacular development of highways with his golden quadrilateral scheme  and turned the focus on the north-eastern States .

Finally, one can say that Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s statesmanship was the ideal bridge which enabled India to transit from the Left of Centre politics of Nehru and Indira Gandhi to Centre-Right. That is why the transition has not been so harsh. And that is why he commanded the adulation and admiration of all Indians across the political spectrum.

(The writer is Chairman, Prasar Bharati)

Writer: A Surya Prakash

Courtesy: The Pioneer

Atal Bihari Vajpayee did a lot in his time as a statesmanship, he was the person who made the bridge that enabled India to transit from the Left of Centre politics to Centre-Right. All he commanded was admitation and adulation of all.

The outpouring of grief across the country and across the political spectrum following the demise of Atal Bihari Vajpayee was indicative of how well he had endeared himself to the people during his long innings in politics that had made him truly an Ajatshatru (one without an enemy).

It was this winsome nature of his which enabled the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which, unlike him, was virtually friendless to later acquire allies and even dislodge the Congress from its perch. He, therefore, played a critical role in ensuring the smooth transition at the federal level from Centre-Left to Centre-Right. When Vajpayee took oath as the Prime Minister after the Lok Sabha election in 1996, he was perceived by the media to be India’s first “right wing” Prime Minister. He headed the single largest party but did not enjoy a majority in the House. His Government lasted just 13 days. But Vajpayee knew that this was just for starters — a kind of a practice session. Although the party was the single largest party, the BJP was regarded as “untouchable” by other political parties and, therefore, found it difficult to cobble up a coalition for a stable Government. The lessons from this defeat were not lost on the party. Therefore, when the United Front Government collapsed and a fresh Lok Sabha poll was called in March, 1998, a lot of background work was done to overcome the deficiencies of 1996.

Vajpayee sent his emissaries around and succeeded in ending the “untouchability” stigma that the party suffered from. Leaders of many disparate parties backed him and found him to be a moderate leader. In no time, Vajpayee demolished fears in the minds of his coalition partners about associating with a “right wing” party. He made the “untouchable” in Indian politics eminently touchable and the party, which had a horde of shatrus (enemies), now had 23 allies!

This became possible because Vajpayee had genuine respect for smaller parties and regional forces and, hence, struck a good equation with Karunanidhi, Mamata Bannerjee and Naveen Patnaik and many other regional leaders. He also saw merit in the regional aspirations of people from Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand regions and, therefore, facilitated the emergence of the new, smaller States — without any bloodshed or violence. It was Vajpayee’s statesmanship that enabled the smooth bifurcation of three big States — Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. This was quite in contrast to the muddled approach of the Congress and United Progressive Alliance  (UPA), which led to the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and the emergence of Telangana and the extent of violence that preceded the creation of the new State.

Vajpayee was a great admirer of Jawaharlal Nehru. In fact, it is said that Nehru had spotted his potential even in Vajpayee’s first term in the Lok Sabha and even introduced him as a future leader of the country to some foreign guests. Nehru’s influence tempered Vajpayee and although he came from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-Jan Sangh stock — he gained acceptability from parties on the other side of the political divide. Therefore, many saw him as a Nehru of the Right Wing. When he wrote the poem, Kadam Milakar Chalna Hoga (We must walk in step), it was not just a day-dream of an idle poet — it conveyed the liberal inner voice of a true democrat.

While Vajpayee retained this liberal approach to politics, he was unrelenting when it came to national interest. That is why he was keen to make India a nuclear state and it is said that he had discussed this with nuclear scientists even during his 13-day Government in 1996. Prime Minister Narasimha Rao was keen to conduct the tests during his tenure from 1991-96. However, he had to hold his hand because somehow the Americans had got wind of it and he did not want to antagonise them. He needed the United States during the process of liberalising the Indian economy, which was in tatters when he took charge.

Narasimha Rao had acknowledged that he regarded Vajpayee as his guru. Anyway, Atal Bihari Vajpayee had been fully briefed by Rao in regard to the readiness of Indian nuclear scientists. It was, therefore, no surprise that Vajpayee went ahead with the nuclear tests in May 1998, when he returned as the Prime Minister heading a coalition of many disparate parties.

The nuclear tests skyrocketed India to the status of a major nuclear power but Americans were indignant and imposed sanctions. American President Bill Clinton was angrily wagging his finger and accusing India of escalating the nuclear race but Vajpayee stood his ground. He knew that the Americans would soon realise that India was a huge market and he sent his Minister Jaswant Singh to talk to the Americans and to bring them round and eventually succeeded in restoring Indo-US ties.

Pokhran–II showed the true Atal Bihari — a gutsy, strong leader who was confident that he would eventually bring the Western world to accept India’s new status. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s approach to international relations is largely in line with Vajpayee’s approach.

Unlike the humming and hawing of the Centre-Left establishment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policy is far more muscular and has given India its rightful place at the high table in international politics.

Vajpayee was a strong leader who handed his responsibility with a lot of tact and firmness. That is why India comprehensively defeated Pakistan in the Kargil War. He also stepped up investment in infrastructure in a big way, opened up the telecom and transport sectors and laid the foundations for spectacular development of highways with his golden quadrilateral scheme  and turned the focus on the north-eastern States .

Finally, one can say that Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s statesmanship was the ideal bridge which enabled India to transit from the Left of Centre politics of Nehru and Indira Gandhi to Centre-Right. That is why the transition has not been so harsh. And that is why he commanded the adulation and admiration of all Indians across the political spectrum.

(The writer is Chairman, Prasar Bharati)

Writer: A Surya Prakash

Courtesy: The Pioneer