PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The governor, lieutenant general Gurmit Singh (retd) said that former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna recipient Atal Bihari Vajpayee is a symbol of national consciousness. Attending theAtal Memorial Lecture Series–2025 organised at Lekhak Gaon here as the chief guest on Thursday, Singh floral tribute to Vajpayee and inaugurated the newly constructed auditorium at the venue.
Addressing the gathering, the governor said that Vajpayee was not just a statesman but also a symbol of national consciousness. Singh said that his life was dedicated to nation-building, democratic values and constitutional ideals. Observed as Good Governance Day, Atal Jayanti reflects the spirit of service, accountability, transparency and sensitivity in governance, he added.
The governor said that Vajpayee provided strong and sensitive leadership during the Pokhran nuclear tests and the Kargil war, while the Lahore bus initiative reflected his belief in peace alongside strength. He said the formation of Uttarakhand in 2000 was a result of Vajpayee’s foresight and his vision of “small State, big development”.
Singh further said that Lekhak Gaon is an important centre of literature and ideological dialogue, and encouraged people, especially youth, to cultivate the habit of writing. He also felicitated the winners of the Bal Atal Lecture Competition and thanked former chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ on the occasion.
