Hundreds of people of all faiths and fields thronged Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's residence at 7, Race Course Road in New Delhi, on Wednesday to wish him on his birthday.
From the usual bouquets to statuettes, books, paintings, portraits, shawls, sweets, and other mementos were gifted to the prime minister who turned 78. Not only did he accept all greetings but also posed for photographs with many visitors.
"It's incredible. How does he do that?" asked foster-daughter Namita as photographers clicked an obliging Vajpayee.
"I have completed 78 years. I have two to four more years left. The love of the people and the country is my greatest treasure. I don't want to lose it. I am grateful to everyone. I need everyone's blessings and good wishes," Vajpayee said after receiving people for over five hours.
The prime minister had a puja at his residence followed by breakfast with his deputy Lal Kishenchand Advani and his family.
Among the ones to greet the prime minister were Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, former president K R Narayanan, Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Najma Heptulla, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief K S Sudarshan, RSS joint general secretary and in-charge
While Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna greeted him over the phone, Congress leader in the Rajya Sabha Manmohan Singh came personally.
After 1998, this is the first time Vajpayee has had a high-profile birthday. In 1999, the whole nation was tense following the hijacking of the Indian Airlines plane to Kandahar. In 2000, Vajpayee spent his birthday in Kumarakom penning his poems and last year, celebrations were toned down due to the December 13 Parliament attack.
"All gifts will be given away to orphanages, homes for the blind, and other charitable institutions," a spokesperson from the prime minister's office said.
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