They fought against him but with respect
VAJPAYEE MY ROLE MODEL SINCE CHILDHOOD: BABBAR
LUCKNOW:
UP Congress Committee president Raj Babbar, who contested the 1996 Lok Sabha election against Atal Bihari Vajpayee, said he would always cherish memories of late former Prime Minister, who rose above political lines and always worked to uphold the Constitution.
Babbar recollected his 1996 days when Samajwadi Party fielded him from Lucknow Lok Sabha seat against Vajpayee.
“I was asked to contest Lok Sabha election against Vajpayeeji in 1996. I was on way to New Delhi to collect some papers when I saw Vajpayeeji sitting on front row of the same plane. Vajpayeeji was also on way back to New Delhi after filing his nomination papers. Seeing Vajpayeeji I stopped. At this Vajpayeeji’s aide Shiv Kumar, who was in second row (behind Vajpayee’s seat) also stood up… With folded hands I said it is beyond me to contest election against you. I have been made a candidate against you. Since my childhood I have considered you my role model and always went to listen to your speech at Surajbhan Ka Phatak in Agra. Bless me. I pray I don’t utter any such word against you for which I may not be able to forgive myself,” said Babbar.
“Vajpayeeji replied saying you will not say any such thing,” recollected the Congress Rajya Sabha member.
Vajpayee won the election and became Prime Minister. “At parliament house too, whenever I used to see his cavalcade I used to stop my car and stood on roadside with folded hands to pay my respect for him. When I met Vajpayeeji I said to him I can’t seek forgiveness because what I did was not by mistake. I was well aware of what I was doing,” said Babbar. “And Vajpayeeji reply was, forget about that,” said Babbar adding, he would always remember the late PM’s kind words for him.