Today, in the Delhi legislative assembly, the portraits of former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Bharat Ratna Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya were unveiled in the House by Union defence minister Rajnath Singh. The ceremony was held in the presence of chief minister Rekha Gupta, Speaker of the assembly Vijender Gupta, and chairman of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Padma Bhushan Shri Ram Bahadur Rai.On the occasion, a commemorative coffee table book titled ‘Bharat Mata’ was also released to mark the completion of 150 years since the composition of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’.The deputy Speaker of the Delhi legislative assembly, Mohan Singh Bisht, Delhi government cabinet minister Pravesh Sahib Singh, and other public representatives were also present.Addressing the gathering, chief minister Rekha Gupta said that the unveiling of the portraits along with the coffee table book within the Delhi Legislative Assembly complex, is a historic and inspiring moment for the assembly. She added that both these towering personalities symbolise the resolve of ‘nation first’, integrity, farsightedness and public welfare. Recalling the contributions of Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya in the fields of education, the freedom movement and national consciousness, Rekha Gupta said that the establishment of institutions such as Banaras Hindu University stands as testimony to his visionary and value-based approach to education. Referring to revered Atal Bihari Vajpayee as a statesman of an era, she said that the foundation of development and national unity laid by him is today forming the basis of India’s rapid progress.CM Rekha Gupta further stated that the coffee table book ‘Bharat Mata’ is dedicated to the creative and artistic expression of Indian national consciousness, and will serve as a source of inspiration for students, researchers, and policy-makers.The CM expressed her gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She said that inline with the PM’s vision, the Delhi government is also working with firm commitment towards the goal of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’.
