Atal Bihari Vajpayee dies at 93: Politicians from across party lines visit ex-PM's Delhi residence to pay last respects
Atal Bihari Vajpayee, one of India’s most charismatic leaders, passed away at 93 on Thursday due to prolonged illness
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Former prime minister and BJP patriarch Atal Bihari Vajpayee, one of India's most charismatic leaders, passed away at 93 on Thursday at AIIMS, New Delhi following a prolonged illness. He was suffering from a kidney infection, urinary tract infection, low urine output and chest congestion. PTI
Vajpayee softened the sharp edge of his party's politics with gentle sophistry of words, earning him the title "ajaat shatru" or the man with no enemies. Coming from a non-Congress party, Vajpayee began his stint at power shakily - his first stint as prime minister in 1996 lasted only 13 days when his unlikely coalition government failed to get support from other parties. However, he went on to become the first-ever non-Congress prime minister to complete a full term. PTI
The 93-year-old BJP veteran was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on 11 June. After his demise, his body was taken to his Krishan Menon Marg residence. On Friday morning, his remains will be taken to the BJP headquarters till 1 pm. His last rites will be performed at 4 pm. PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the passing away of Atal Bihari Vajpayee marked the end of an era and termed it as a "personal and irreplaceable" loss for him. He said the BJP patriarch lived for the nation and served it assiduously for decades. PTI
Party national president Amit Shah described Vajpayee as one of the most-popular Indian leader. Shah said, "as the Bharatiya Janata Party's founding president, he nursed a banyan tree in the country's politics with his tenacity and tireless work." PTI
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi described Vajpayee as a "towering figure". She said, "He was a man with a large heart and a real spirit of magnanimity. One saw that in all his interactions - with other political parties and their leaders, with foreign governments, with coalition partners, and indeed with his own political colleagues, whom he always treated with respect and courtesy." PTI