[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 23, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1773-E1774]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  WELCOMING AND CONGRATULATING PRIME MINISTER ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE OF 
                                 INDIA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 23, 1998

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome Prime Minister 
Atal Bihari Vajpayee of India on his visit to the United States and 
meeting at the United Nations. This is Mr. Vajpayee's first visit to 
the United States since he was sworn in as Prime Minister for the 
second time on March 19, 1998.
  On September 24th, the Prime Minister will address the 53rd Session 
of the United Nations, and shortly thereafter Mr. Vajpayee will receive 
the distinguished Dr. Ambedkar Award for this tremendous government 
service on behalf of the Indian people. The award will be presented by 
the founder and president of the Ambedkar International Mission U.S.A., 
Mr. Hardyal Singh. Dr. Ambedkar was the author of the Indian 
Constitution and was India's most prominent and vocal proponent of 
equal rights for Scheduled Castes.
  Prime Minister Vajpayee's long and impressive parliamentary career 
began in 1957 when he was just 22 years old. Mr. Vajpayee was briefly 
Prime Minister in 1996 and later became the Opposition Leader.
  The Prime Minister is also known as a scholar and an articulate 
speaker. He has published several collections of his poems and speeches 
including ``Lok Sabha Mein Atalji'', ``Mrityu Ya Hatya'', and ``Amar 
Aag Hai.'' Mr. Vajpayee has also been an editor of several Hindi 
newspapers.
  Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has dedicated his career to the 
uplifting of Scheduled Castes and Tribes, promoting women's rights, and 
defending child welfare.
  On behalf of the House of Representatives I welcome this able leader 
to our country and hope his stay proves to be a productive one.

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