POLITICS LOSES ITS POETRY
INDIA WITHOUT VAJPAYEE End of an era as orator, politician, statesman dies aged 93
NEW DELHI: India’s former prime minister and one of the country’s most-loved and respected leaders, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, died on Thursday evening, uniting an otherwise deeply divided political class in grief.
Vajpayee, three-time PM, 12-time parliamentarian, former president of both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its earlier avatar, the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, and a popular mass leader who brought both respectability and power to the BJP for the first time, passed away at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at the age of 93.
“It is with profound grief that we inform about the sad demise of former Prime Minister of India Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee at 5.05 pm,” Aarti Vij, who heads the media and protocol division of AIIMS, said in a statement.
“Unfortunately, his condition deteriorated over the last 36 hours and he was put on life support systems. Despite the best of efforts, we have lost him today. We join the nation in deeply mourning this great loss,” Vij added.
A galaxy of political dignitaries including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, LK Advani, an associate of Vajpayee’s for seven decades, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, visited AIIMS before the announcement was made.
Vajpayee’s health had deteriorated after he suffered a stroke in 2009. He was admitted to AIIMS on June 11 with infection of the kidney and urinary tracts, and chest congestion. On Wednesday, AIIMS said his condition had worsened over the past 24 hours.
Vajpayee’s death led to tributes from across the political spectrum, with everyone from Prime Minister Modi to Congress president Gandhi expressing their sadness. Leaders from across the globe, including Pakistan Pm-elect Imran Khan, also expressed their condolence.
“I am speechless...i feel a deep void...he lived for the nation and served it assiduously for decades. My thoughts are with his family, BJP Karyakartas and millions of admirers in this hour of sadness,” Modi tweeted. “it was Vajpayee’s exemplary leadership that set the foundations for a strong, prosperous and inclusive India in the 21st century. His futuristic policies across various sectors touched the lives of each and every citizen of India.” Modi said Vajpayee’s death was a “personal and irreplaceable loss” for him.
“I have countless fond memories with him. He was an inspiration to karyakartas (functionaries) like me,” he said. “I will particularly remember his sharp intellect and outstanding wit.”
Gandhi said in a Twitter post, “Today India lost a great son. Former PM, Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, was loved and respected by millions. My condolences to his family & all his admirers. We will miss him.”