SERAJ ANWAR/PATNA

The nation is paying tribute to former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his eighth death anniversary. President Droupadi Murmu and PM Modi paid their respects at Vajpayee's memorial site, Sadaiv Atal, in Delhi. Atal Bihari Vajpayee passed away on 16 August 2018. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while paying tribute to Vajpayee on his death anniversary, said that his thoughts and efforts for the nation have inspired many generations.

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is always remembered for his oratory skills. His words used to give lessons to both his opponents and friends. Considering his thoughts and behavior towards the people of the country, he was also called the secular leader of a communal party. His affinity towards Hindus and Muslims was the same. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad had launched a movement against Vajpayee's will by organizing a Ram Shila Puja program on the Ram temple issue, due to which Vajpayee was upset with the Sangh. He was dedicated to Raj Dharma, but on one occasion, he could not fulfill this responsibility?

In 2002, after the Gujarat riots, then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had advised then-Chief Minister Narendra Modi to follow Raj Dharma. Vajpayee's statement was widely discussed, and many meanings were derived from it. After Vajpayee's statement, it was believed that Narendra Modi's days as the Gujarat CM were numbered. However, Modi's position remained intact. It is believed that Vajpayee was upset over the Gujarat riots. In a press conference, Vajpayee said that Narendra Modi should follow Raj Dharma. Modi was also present at the press conference.

Even today, when the 2002 Gujarat riots are discussed, the memories of Atal Bihari Vajpayee's Raj Dharma are refreshed, and the question arises whether there was any compulsion? Did Atal Bihari Vajpayee himself not follow Raj Dharma? He was the Prime Minister, and Modi was the Chief Minister. If Vajpayee felt that the state's Chief Minister was unable to follow Raj Dharma, could he not have removed him from the post? Does this question not arise that Atal Bihari Vajpayee himself did not follow Raj Dharma? Raj Dharma does not run on advice, sometimes it requires taking tough decisions. Gujarat was burning, and Vajpayee was internally disturbed. That's when he advised the Chief Minister to follow Raj Dharma, but he himself avoided this responsibility.

This incident dates back to when then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Gujarat after the violence in the state. At that time, the BJP was in power in Gujarat, and Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister. When Atal Bihari Vajpayee was holding a press conference in Gujarat, a journalist asked him if he had any message for Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Vajpayee replied in his characteristic style, saying, "My only message to the Chief Minister is to follow Raj Dharma... For a king, for a ruler, there can be no distinction among the people, neither on the basis of birth, nor on the basis of caste, nor on the basis of community."

Vajpayee is no more, but the debate he sparked on Raj Dharma remains. Has it been followed till date? Is it being followed today? Will it ever be followed? This question will arise every time the people are distressed, especially when a particular section is targeted?