Lucknow, Dec. 24 -- On the eve of Atal Bihari Vajpayee's 101st birth anniversary, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described him as a leader who earned respect not because of power or position but due to his deeds, character and lifelong commitment to values.

Addressing the Ekal Kaviya Path programme in Lucknow, Rajnath Singh said, "There are people who are honoured not for their position or power, but for their deeds and character, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee was one such person... He was a man of charismatic character whose life journey resonated with many..."

The Defence Minister recalled that Atal Bihari ji kept poetry alive amid noise and commotion, winning people's hearts through its depth. "When he was in the 10th grade, he wrot...