New Delhi: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said true leadership demands placing the nation above the pursuit of power and principles above partisan politics, as he unveiled portraits of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and freedom fighter and educationist Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya at Delhi Assembly.Singh described Vajpayee as a statesman who combined political conviction with democratic sensitivity, and called Malaviya a visionary educationist and parliamentarian whose influence continues to shape India’s intellectual and cultural life.Addressing MLAs and dignitaries, Singh — who was welcomed by speaker Vijender Gupta and chief minister Rekha Gupta — said politics is a “sacred trust of public service”, adding that democracy can endure only when guided by integrity, character and moral courage.Reflecting on the lives of Vajpayee and Malaviya, the defence minister said both leaders exemplified the highest standards of moral integrity, democratic responsibility and national commitment. Their public conduct, he said, offered enduring guidance on ethical politics, unity of purpose and the primacy of long-term national interest.Singh said the unveiling of the portraits was not merely ceremonial but a reaffirmation of enduring values such as ethical politics, education-led nation-building, parliamentary dignity and public service.He also released a coffee table book titled ‘Bharat Mata’ and witnessed the screening of a documentary, Sansadiya Path Ke Aalok Stambh, chronicling the lives and contributions of the two Bharat Ratna awardees.
