Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Politician

1924-12-25 – 2018-08-16

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was an Indian statesman who served three terms as Prime Minister of India. He was a founding leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party and one of the most prominent figures in modern Indian politics.

Quotes by Atal Bihari Vajpayee

The UN's unique legitimacy flows from a universal perception that it pursues a larger purpose than the interests of one country or a small group of countries.
Read quote
Empowering the individual means empowering the nation. And empowerment is best served through rapid economic growth with rapid social change.
Read quote
My message to the people and rulers of Pakistan is, 'As neighbours, we want peace and friendship and cooperation with you so that together we can change the face of South Asia.'
Read quote
No state should be allowed to profess partnership with the global coalition against terror, while continuing to aid, abet and sponsor terrorism.
Read quote
If Pakistan had not accepted the demand to stop cross-border infiltration and the United States had not conveyed to us Pakistan's guarantee to do so, then nothing could have stopped a war.
Read quote
Our objective should be to firmly deal with terrorism and its sponsors, financiers, and arms suppliers. At the same time, our doors should always be open for processes which would restore peace, development, and progress to societies which have been devastated by terrorism over many generations.
Read quote
Let me make one thing clear. I have never considered mere survival in power as any achievement, just as I have never seen coming to power as an achievement in itself.
Read quote
Population needs to be stabilised for sustainable development.
Read quote
India helped Bangladesh to achieve independence. The Bangladeshis should remain happy inside the territory of their own country.
Read quote
As we talk with candour, we open the doors to new possibilities and new areas of cooperation in advance in democracy, in combating terrorism, in energy and environment, science and technology and international peacekeeping.
Read quote
The BJP is not a party dependent on a single individual, nor is it tied to the apron strings of a family.
Read quote
I have never been a traitor. I am not an informer; I never betrayed my nation.
Read quote
It is true that of all the states in India, Nagaland has a unique history. We are sensitive to this historical fact. But this uniqueness has in no way diminished the spirit of patriotism among the Naga people.
Read quote
No one can be considered untouchable on political grounds.
Read quote
Victory and defeat are a part of life, which are to be viewed with equanimity.
Read quote
We are unnecessarily wasting our precious resources in wars... if we must wage war, we have to do it on unemployment, disease, poverty, and backwardness.
Read quote
Our nuclear weapons are meant purely as a deterrent against nuclear adventure by an adversary.
Read quote
Members of India's diaspora, living in distant lands of the world, my good wishes to all of you. You may be far away from India, but you are always close to our hearts.
Read quote