This book gives information about views, policies and major decisions taken during decisive period of nineteen months as Prime Minister. Sh. Vajpayee, who is leading the world’s largest democracy, has been on the central stage of Indian politics for more than any other leader since independence. He views his responsibility as a trustee and has given prime importance to enhance the dignity of the country and welfare of the people. His restraint coupled with the firmness with which he has handled the Kargil crisis ranks him amongst the top statesmen in the world. He has extended the hand of friendship to all neighbours. But at the same time he has taken firm steps to safeguard the security of India, including testing of nuclear weapons and Agni II, undeterred by expected ire of the nuclear countries. But the world has now realised that India is a responsible country desiring peace. He has made India a major player in world politics. Certainly, not a small achievement by any standard. He is an orator par excellence who even keeps his audience including his most virulent critics spellbound by his forceful and inspiring speeches delivered in crisp pawky prose, with deadly squelches, hilarious one liners, sparkling witticism and reasoned arguments on national and international issues. This book includes major speeches made by him as Prime Minister on vital questions facing the country and the world, such as defence, disarmaments, nuclear weapons, foreign policy, Indo Pak relations and economic issues. It is hoped that this book will be of abiding interest of all.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (December 25,1924), Prime Minister has been imbued with a nationalistic spirit from his childhood. He took part in the Quit India Movement and was imprisoned. He obtained his MA degree in Political Science from DAV College, Kanpur. He began his career as Editor of Hindi Rashtra Dharma, weekly Panchjanya, later daily Veer Arjun and Swadesh. Founder member of Bharatiya Jana Sangh he was its President in 1967-77. After incarceration in Emergency (1975-77) he was a co-founder of the Janata Party and served as External Affairs Minister in Janata Government. In 1980, he founded the Bharatiya Janata Party and was its President during 1980-86. He has been a Member of Parliament almost uninterruptedly since 1957, he was Leader of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and BJP Parliamentary Parties during 1957-77, 1980-84 and 1986-91. He became Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha in 1993. He has served on several parliamentary committees as Chairman or member with distinction, and has also been member of several Indian Parliamentary Delegations going abroad. In 1994, he led the Indian Delegation to the UN Conference on Human Rights. He was conferred Padma Vibhushan by the President and honoured by the Prime Minister’ The Best parliamentarian of 1994.’ He became the Prime Minister in 1996, second time in 1998 and again in 1999. He is a poet and a scholar and has several publications to his credit.
Dr. N.M. Ghatate (Editor) is a Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court. He is at present member of the Law Commission of India. He did his PhD in International Relations from the American University, Washington D. C. He has written number of research articles on Constitutional Law and international relations. Books to his credit are: Indo-Soviet Treaty: Reactions and Reflections; Bangladesh: Crisis and Consequences; Revoke Emergency and Four Decades in Parliament (Ed.).
Editor's Note, Recollect, State of the Nation, Security and Defence, Foreign Policy, Indo-Pak Relation, Global Economic Issues, Other Issues, Confidence Motion, First Tenure as Prime Minister, Appendix, Index