Amit Shah inaugurates bronze statue of Vajpayee in Panchkula

    Panchkula, Dec 24 (PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday unveiled a bronze statue of former prime minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the eve of his 101st birth anniversary here.
    Shah inaugurated the 41-foot-tall statue at the Atal Park in the presence of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and several Haryana ministers, among others. Shah was in Panchkula to take part in multiple events on Wednesday.
    Addressing the passing out parade of Batch 93 of the Recruit Basic Course (RBC) in which 5,061 newly-trained Haryana Police constables joined the state police force, Shah said Vajpayee was a born patriot, an able administrator, and a poet at heart, but when it came to the security and progress of the country, he was more resolute and unwavering than anyone else.
    During his term as the prime minister in 1998, the country became a nuclear power as, disregarding global opposition, Vajpayee worked to strengthen India's defence capabilities.
    Vajpayee's statue will inspire the youth of Haryana on what an ideal life is like, what a dedicated leader, an able administrator and a person who lives for his country is like, Shah said.
    The statue, including a 15-foot-tall pedestal, stands at 56 feet above the ground level. It was completed in a span of just 25 days by the Panchkula Metropolitan Development Authority (PMDA), officials said.
    A video presentation on the features of Atal Park was also shown on the occasion.
    Shah also went around a specially curated exhibition on Vajpayee and his association with Haryana at the BJP office, 'Panchkamal', here.
    The exhibition highlights key milestones of Vajpayee's public life, his contributions to nation-building and his connection with Haryana, offering visitors a glimpse into his political journey, governance philosophy and legacy, an official statement said.
    Shah also virtually inaugurated 250 Atal e-libraries across the state, aimed at promoting a culture of reading and knowledge-sharing, particularly among the youth.
    In addition, Shah released a coffee table book on Vajpayee, which documents his life, leadership and impact on Indian politics.
    Shah also inaugurated an Atal Smriti blood donation camp in Panchkula and appreciated the donors for their noble contribution.     A total of 211 units of blood were collected during the camp.
    Atal Park, where the statue has been installed, is being developed by the PMDA over an area of 20,786 square metres in Sector-1, Panchkula.
    Special emphasis has been laid on thematic and wellness-based zones such as Bal Vigyan Vanaya Vatika, envisioned as a children's science and wildlife garden, Yog Vatika, a fitness park, Ayurveda Vatika showcasing medicinal plants, Sugandh Vatika designed as a fragrance garden, Kalakriti Vatika focusing on artistic expressions, and Sanskritic Vatika developed as a heritage garden, the statement said.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)