Atal fit for big league at 80

VISHAL SHARMA

GWALIOR, 26 Dec. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee turned 80 at a low-key function in his home-town Gwalior on Saturday, but he did not fail to point out that he's game for big league matches still.
Mr Vajpayee said he only remembered his post-Pokharan birthdays since he has always wanted to see this country stand tall, braving all odds.
Though the walking stick, and the slight tremble in his voice indicated that this "iron-willed" leader of Opposition is growing old, but the trademark wit showed that his mind was as keen as ever.
Looking back on his long political career that included the posts of serving as a long-term Leader of Opposition and the first non-Congress Prime Minister to have lasted an entire term, Mr Vajpayee quoted from his poem Kadam Badhakar Chalna Hoga, saying a lot needed to be still done. Asked how the 80 years had passed, he snapped his fingers, saying "like that".
His most cherished birthday moment was in 1998, he said, was after the Pokharan Nuclear test.
On the sudden return of an "aggressive Vajpayee" in Parliament, the former PM Vajpayee said by making his voice heard he wanted people to know that "I'm still around". Asked about the political crisis in Madhya Pradesh, reportedly following a letter 12 BJP MLAs had written to BJP president L K Advani seeking re-appointment of Ms Uma Bharti as Chief Minister replacing Mr Babulal Gaur, Mr Vajpayee testily replied that he doesn't peek into Mr Advani's correspondence. But, he added that if there is indeed such a letter, he would be told. Till then, he said all party workers should ensure the smooth functioning of the party.
Mr Vajpayee was presented with an 80-feet birthday card and an 80 kg "laddoo", prepared by Gwalior residents at the local Murar Circuit House on the occasion. After a brief interaction with the media, he spent time with his family members and colleagues of Gwalior reminscing his earlier days of youth.
Some of his classmates said the people of Gwalior still remember Mr Vajpayee roaming the city on his bicycle. "No one then would have believed Mr Vajpayee would become Prime Minister one day," they said.
Mr Vajpayee was celebrating his birthday in Gwalior after 14 years. The last time, he celebrated his birthday here was in 1990 at a simple function at the Kakato dam. Asked if they believed Mr Vajpayee was growing old for politics, one of his friends said " no way, Mr Vajpayee still had the calibre to make a comeback".

(UNITED NEWS NETWORK)

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