5 Great, Inspiring Speeches by Atal Bihari Vajpayee

ONI Bureau:  * After 1998 Pokhran Tests: “We have been the victims of three attacks. This fate should not repeat. We are not getting ready to attack anyone. We don’t have that intention. Pokhran-2 and the Lahore bus service are two sides of the same coin – the strength of our defence and the hand of friendship — the hand of friendship through honesty.”

* After imposition of Economic Sanctions on India in 1998: “We knew that India would have to face some difficulties. But we were also confident that Indians would overcome these difficulties with courage and determination. Economic sanctions could not stop India’s progress. We have never taken any decision, nor shied away from taking any decision, under foreign pressure.”

* During Confidence Motion Debate in 1998: “All of us have to work together to face and overcome the problems and challenges before the nation. This cannot be done by a single party or a single alliance.”

* Vajpayee in US Congress in 2000: “India and the United States have taken a decisive step, away from the past. The dawn of the new century has marked a new beginning in our relations. Let us work to fulfill this promise and the hope of today. Let us remove the shadow of agitation that lies between us and our joint vision. Let us use the strength of all that we have in common to build together a future that we wish for ourselves and for the world we live in.”

* Independence Day speech in 2002: “We have a message – to come together, to work hard together to realize the dreams of our country. Our aim may be as high as the endless sky, but we should have a resolve in our minds to walk ahead, hand-in-hand for victory will be ours. Come, let us strengthen this resolve by the cry of Jai Hind”.