New Delhi:
The Prime Minister today told his party's law-makers that December 25, the birthday of iconic BJP leader Atal Behari Vajpayee, will be commemorated as "Good Governance Day".
Mr Vajpayee, former Prime Minister and one of India's most respected statesmen, will turn 90 this year.
The PM shared plans with BJP parliamentarians at a meeting this morning. Party president Amit Shah was also present. The PM said the party will organize a nationwide tribute to Mr Vajpayee, who has been seriously unwell for nearly five years. In August, Mr Vajpayee was removed from the BJP's top decision-making body, its parliamentary board. Like party veterans LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, he was nominated to a new committee assigned to mentor the BJP and referred to as the Marg Darshak Mandal or a steering committee.
The PM said all law-makers must on December 25 lead efforts to remove litter in their constituencies as part of the Clean India mission that he launched on Independence Day. The PM said he will be in his constituency, Varanasi, to lead by example.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the party MPs that the birthday of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee would be observed as national 'Good Governance Day' on December 25, where all BJP MPs and Government officials will make the day symbolic of good governance," Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy told reporters.
A committee of top BJP leaders including ministers like JP Nadda and smriti Irani has been formed to plan the tribute, and held its first meeting last night. It will develop a blueprint for how the occasion can be used to "propagate the message of good governance" said sources.