VAJPAYEE CREMATED WITH FULL MILITARY HONOURS
India on Friday bid adieu to one of its most respected leaders, Atal Behari Vajpayee, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 93. As national leaders and his close ones clad in white clothes stood in solemnity by the prye and amid chants of Vedic hymns, the poet-prime minister’s foster daughter Namita Kaul Bhattacharya lit the pyre at Smrithi Sthal, in a break from the tradition of a male family member performing the last rites.
A galaxy of political leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and LK Advani, and foreign dignitaries paid their last tributes at the state funeral.
A decorated gun carriage carrying Vajpayee’s mortal remains left his home on Krishna Menon Marg around 10am and reached the Bharatiya Janata Party’s headquarters at Deen Dayal UPADHYAY MARG, About ive kilometres away, around 11 am. Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah and other senior leaders of the party walked in the funeral procession, nearly four kilometres, along with thousands of mourners from the BJP headquarters to Smriti Sthal as thousands lined up along the path chanted “Atalji amar rahe.” After a gun salute, Vajpayee’s body was consigned to lames. HIS GRANDDAUGHTER NIHARIKA was handed over the Tricolour which was used to drape his mortal remains.
All three forces - army, navy and air force - laid wreath on the mortal remains of Vajpayee. Army chief Bipin Rawat and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman paid last respects. Among foreign dignitaries attending, the most noticed was Pakistan law minister Ali Zafar. “We are here to share your grief and pay our condolences on the behalf of people of Pakistan and the Government of Pakistan,” he said.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister in waiting, Imran Khan said that Vajpayee’s efforts to better the India-pakistan relationship will always be remembered.
In a statement he added, “As Prime Minister, Vajpayee sahab took the initiative to further improving Indopakistan relations. With the death of Vajpayee sahab, South Asian politics now left with a huge political vacuum. There can be political differences but both sides of the border want peace. It is only through establishing peace that we can really honour the legacy of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In this moment of grief following the demise of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, I stand with the people of India.” Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message of condolence to President Ramnath Kovind and premier Modi, calling Vajpayee “a politician who made a major personal contribution to the friendly relations and privileged strategic partnership between our countries.” HE ADDED that THE GREAT LEADER HAD “rightly commanded great respect around the world” and conveyed sympathy and support to Vajpayee’s family, and the government and people of India.
US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said: “Vajpayee recognised early on that the Us-india partnership would contribute to the world’s economic prosperity and security and the two DEMOCRACIES Continue to Beneit From his vision.” “On behalf of the people of the United States of America, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the people of India,” he said. “HE CHAMPIONED tirelessly For HIS country’s development and demonstrated a devotion to improving the lives of every Indian.” Vajpayee “recognised early on that the United States and India, based on their shared democratic values, could develop a partnership that would contribute to the economic prosperity and security of the region and the world. Today, our two countries and our bilateral relationship continue to Beneit From PRIME Minister VAJPAYEE’S vision, which helped promote expanded co-operation,” Pompeo said. HE SAID THE AMERICAN people stand with the people of India “as we mourn Prime Minister Vajpayee’s passing.” “Today, we hold the people of India in our thoughts and prayers,” Pompeo added.
Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, former Afghan president HAMID KARZAI AND BANGLADESH FOREIGN Minister Abul Hassan MAHMOOD Ali were among other foreign dignitaries attending the funeral.
Sri Lanka’s Acting Foreign Minister Lakshman Kiriella and Nepal’s Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali also attended.
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal were also present at the funeral. There was massive deployment of police and paramilitary personnel along the entire procession route.