Leaders across party lines remember ex-pm Vajpayee

NEW DELHI: Even as the country continues to mourn the death of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, his

lieutenant Lal Krishna Advani on Monday said he never thought that he would attend a meeting where Vajpayee would not be present. Addressing the commemoration programme here on Monday, the BJP veteran said, “I have addressed several public meetings but I had never thought a day would come when I would have to address a meeting like this, a meeting where Atalji would not be there.”

Advani, who had been closely associated with Vajpayee for nearly 65 years, said he shared various experiences, books and films with him while working. “I consider myself fortunate that my friendship with Atalji lasted for 65 years during which I watched him closely. Working together, we shared our experiences, watched films together and read books together,” added Advani.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, BJP president Amit Shah, other senior cabinet ministers, state chief ministers, senior politicians from various political parties, Yoga guru Ramdev and other spiritual gurus were also present in the condolence meeting at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.

Remembering Vajpayee, Modi said the former prime minister and BJP patriarch spent several years in the Opposition but never compromised with his ideology. “His efforts ensured that India became a nuclear power and attributed the tests to the brilliance of our scientists. He never buckled under pressures. He was ‘Atal’ after all,” said Modi.

“When he formed a government for 13 days, no party was willing to support him. As a result, the government fell. Yesterday, Bajrang Punia, who I think has never seen him, dedicated his gold medal to Atalji. I think this says a lot about his personality,” the PM added.

“Atalji’s words and his life... be it someone who watched him closely or saw him from far away, everyone found him to be the same and believed in him,” said Mohan Bhagwat.

Amit Shah said the political

luminary had a multifaceted personality. “Besides being an ‘Ajatshatru’, he was a great poet, journalist and politician, who never let the party deviate from the path of its ideology.”

Rajnath Singh said: “He did not become popular because he was the PM. I think he would have been as popular as he was after being the PM, had he worked in any social or political sector.”

The other political party representatives also shared their experiences with the former PM. Senior Congress

leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said: “Even after his death, he has brought us together in one room, which is great. When I was a minister and he was the

leader of Opposition, we used to have lunch and tea in each other’s office. It was not that difficult in those days.”

“He led an absolutely unblemished life. He had a unique style. He never worried about food, lifestyle or any other thing. I pay my tributes to such a man full of love and humanity,” said senior leader Sharad Yadav.

Satish Mishra of the BSP said: “Although he was poetic and generous at heart, he took strong decisions like nuclear test and Kargil war for the nation. He was loved and respected by the ruling party as well as opposition. We need to follow his principles to spread peace and harmony.”

The ‘philosopher Prime Minister’ was also known for his resolution for Kashmir issue.

Speaking on the occasion, former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdul

lah said: “He was large-hearted. No one had a heart like him. (Woh Wazir-e-azam nahi Hindustan ke dilon ke maalik the). If you want to remember Atal, then built the country for love. Exchanging lovable relation would be the greatest honour to him.”

Another former CM of J&K Mehbooba Mufi said: “This was Vajpayeeji who went to Pakistan and made Musharraf sahab say that they will not use the land of Jammu and Kashmir for militancy. He was a great human being but for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, he was not less than a Messiah. He was the first Indian leader who trusted the people of J&K and whom the people trusted.”

Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’brien said: “If you

look for the definition of certain words, you have to look in the dictionary. But there’s one word you don’t need to look in a dictionary...if you look at his face you will get the meaning of the word ‘secular’... When someone passes away, people always write RIP, which means ‘Rest in Peace’ but maybe after 16th Aug 2018, RIP for this great man will mean ‘Really Incredible Person’.” TMC was an ally in the NDA government when Vajpayee was the prime minister.

Yoga guru Ramdev said: “As

long as he was alive, he made Bharat Mata proud and he has set such an example that he will be remembered for the ages to come.”

Never thought a day would come when I would attend a meeting without Atalji, says LK Advani