Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a commemorative Rs 100 coin in memory of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Parliament House Annexe in New Delhi today.
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and Senior BJP leaders, including Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Culture Minister Dr Mahesh Sharma, Senior BJP leader LK Advani and BJP president Amit Shah were also present at the event.
Interestingly, this Rs 100 currency will be the highest denomination in the form of coin.
Earlier, reports said the government was also planning to bring in new Rs 10 and Rs 5 coins. The launch of Rs 100 coin comes weeks after the government brought Rs 200 denomination note for the first time.
The coin was released just a day ahead of late Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee birthday anniversary. His birthday which is on December 25, is celebrated as ‘Good Governance Day’ by the BJP.
Atal Ji passed away on August 16 at the AIIMS in Delhi at the age of 93 following prolonged illness.
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “He would go to Vajpayee's memorial on Tuesday to reiterate his commitment to the ideology and path shown by the statesman. Atal ji was away from public life for nearly a decade, but the way people paid tributes to him after his demise shows how much he was loved and admired. He was a stalwart and respected across all sections of society.”
Prime Minister also said, as a speaker, Atal ji was unparalleled and he is among the best orators India has produced. He said some people become impatient when they are out of power. A long part of Atal Ji's career was spent in the opposition benches but he spoke about national interest and never compromised.
PM further added, “Atal Ji wanted democracy to be supreme. He built the Jana Sangh. But, when the time came to rescue our democracy he and others went to Janata Party. Likewise, when the choice was between remaining in power or comprising on ideology, he left Janata Party and formed the BJP.”
