Nostalgia binds all at Vajpayee ‘shok sabha’

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 22

An all-party memorial meeting for former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Wednesday struck a distinct sombre note of harmony as leaders extolled the virtues of the iconic leader and remembered him as the great son of India.

The speakers were nostalgic as they recalled their association with Vajpayee and described him as a great leader who belonged not only to the BJP, but the entire country.

Paying tributes, Governor Acharya Devvrat said Vajpayee was a legendary and visionary leader who defined the highest values of leadership. His contribution to the development of the country would be remembered for the years to come, he said.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said Vajpayee was a statesman and a visionary leader, who was above party politics. His demise was indeed a great loss to the nation in general and Himachal in particular.

He said the former Prime Minister had an ability to express his viewpoint precisely. The idea to construct the Rohtang tunnel was conceived by him in 1998 and the project was announced on June 3, 2000.

Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda said he was the “king of hearts of people” and a huge gathering at his funeral was a testimony to his popularity.

“Political leaders are forgotten when they are out of power, but Vajpayee was fondly remembered by all in spite of the fact that he was completely out of public life for more than 10 years,” he added.

Himachal Vidhan Sabha Speaker Rajeev Bindal said Vajpayee was not only a national leader, but a world leader, respected and admired by one and all.

Senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar described Vajpayee as an extraordinary leader and personality and said he never undermined the achievements of predecessor governments. Citing an example of sensitivity, he recalled how the Antyoday Yojana was stalled by the Union Finance Ministry and he went to Vajpayee after eight starvation deaths at Kalahandi and said while foodgrain was rotting, people were dying of starvation. Vajpayee immediately approved the scheme and the sanction was accorded after three months. Former Congress Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said Vajpayee was an inspiring personality who never discriminated and helped all. He was ‘shaan’ (glory) of the Lok Sabha.

He said Vajpayee would continue to inspire the generations to come.

Former BJP Chief Minister PK Dhumal said he was a “maha manav” and not a narrow-minded person. Vajpayee did what he said and had immense capacity to take leaders of other parties along, he added. He said the iconic leader had given numerous gifts and financial aid to Himachal, his second home.

Leader of the Congress Legislative Party Mukesh Agnihotri said due to his behaviour and simplicity, Vajpayee would remain a role model in Indian politics for times to come.

CPM leader and MLA Rakesh Singha and Prant Pracharak RSS Sanjeevan also paid rich tributes to the former Prime Minister. A documentary on the Himachal sojourn of Atal Bihari Vajpayee produced by the Information and Public Relations Department was also shown on the occasion. Bhajans and patriotic songs were recited.

Satti brings ashes of great leader

State BJP president Satpal Singh Satti and Transport Minister Govind Thakur arrived with the ashes of Vajpayee on Wednesday, which were received by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur. These were kept on The Ridge, where people from different walks of life paid tributes to their beloved leader. The ashes of 

Vajpayee were handed over to them by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the BJP office in Delhi in the morning. The ashes would be immersed in all rivers of the state.