Team Goemkarponn
Porvorim: Tourism Minister and Porvorim MLA Rohan Ashok Khaunte on Thursday said that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a shining chapter in India’s political, social and ideological history, whose guiding principle was always “Nation First.”
Khaunte was speaking at the Atal Smruti Sammelan, organised by the BJP Porvorim Mandal at the Salvador do Mundo Panchayat Hall. BJP State President Damodar Naik, Penha de França Sarpanch Sapnil Chodankar, Zilla Panchayat members Sandeep Salgaonkar and Amit Asnodkar, Porvorim Mandal BJP President Vineet Parab, Porvorim BJP In-charge Rupesh Kamat, and senior BJP leader Govind Parvatkar were present on the dais.
Describing Vajpayee as more than just a politician, Khaunte said Atalji represented an ideology, a value system and a powerful source of inspiration. He added that Vajpayee was a rare example of dignified and respectful politics, earning admiration even from ideological opponents.
Khaunte said that from his student days, Atalji possessed a deep sense of service to the nation. Through his journey in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Jana Sangh, and later the Bharatiya Janata Party, Vajpayee consistently placed national interest above personal or political considerations. One of his greatest qualities, Khaunte noted, was that he never allowed ideological differences to turn into personal bitterness.
He further said that Vajpayee respected his opponents, treated Parliament as a sacred platform for dialogue, and always maintained discipline in language and conduct. These qualities, he added, made Atalji an ideal leader and gave India renewed confidence on the global stage.
Referring to the Pokhran nuclear tests of 1998, Khaunte said the bold decision firmly established India as a nuclear power. Though difficult, the decision was taken purely in the interest of national security. He also highlighted the Lahore Bus Yatra as a powerful message of peace, stating that only a visionary leader like Vajpayee could balance strength with dialogue and diplomacy.
Speaking on the occasion, BJP State President Damodar Naik said that landmark decisions such as the Suvarna Chaturbhuj Mahamarg Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, expansion of telecom and infrastructure, privatisation, and economic reforms laid the foundation for modern India’s development. He added that Vajpayee’s slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan” was not merely a catchphrase, but a comprehensive vision for the nation’s progress.
Naik also said that apart from being a great statesman, Vajpayee was a sensitive poet and writer, whose poetry reflected deep patriotism, philosophical thought and human emotions.
During the programme, newly elected Zilla Panchayat members Sandeep Salgaonkar and Amit Asnodkar were felicitated for their recent electoral victories. Senior BJP workers and respected citizens active during Vajpayee’s era — Vinayakumar Mantrawadi, Gajendra Singh, Kiran Prasad, Dina Karpe, Chandrahas Narayan, and Gita Malgaonkar — were also honoured.
Mandal President Vineet Parab welcomed the gathering, Rina Fernandes proposed the vote of thanks, and Suraj Prabhudesai compered the programme.
