Atal Bihari Vajpayee: 'A towering personality in global scenario'

CONDOLENCES POUR IN

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Aug 16: Condolences poured in as the news of the demise of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee spread. Assam Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, and the AASU among others have condoled the death of the Vajpayee.

Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi mourned the death of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee who died at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi on Thursday. He was 93.

Describing him as a towering personality and a powerful national voice who had played crucial roles even on the international political scene, Prof. Mukhi said that in his death, the nation had lost an eminent statesman who had earned the unique distinction of being the first non-Congress Prime Minister who led the country three times as Prime Minister.

Prof. Mukhi said, "The sagacity and leadership of the former Prime Minister at both the national and international levels has been a source of inspiration and guidance." Atal Behari Vajpayee in 1977 as India's foreign minister surprised one and all in the UN General Assembly by speaking in Hindi. The way he conveyed so much in so few words left the world dumbfounded. He spoke about Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam at that level and made the intentions of the country clear at the world forum. This speech made many people realize the importance of the native tongue and also placed an Indian Language on the political stage of the modern world for the first time.

During his tenure as the Prime Minister he made a bold yet subtle statement regarding India's nuclear capability by going for Pokhran test thereby helped India to ensure its entry in Nuclear Club. He however, made it unambiguously clear that the country's nuclear repository and policy 'is for self-defense and the country which is a believer of non-violence in no way will be in nuclear race with any country' and India will not use the nuclear power first but will be used as self-defense mechanism.

Stating his long association with Vajpayee, the stalwart of National and International politics, Prof. Mukhi said he had turned to the veteran leader on many occasions for his advice on important issues and the response was always pragmatic. Reminiscing his personal rapport with the former Prime Minister, Prof. Mukhi said that when he was the finance minister of Delhi, Vajpayee was the Prime Minister and they shared many thoughts on several issues. On his demise, Prof.Mukhi said he had lost a philosopher and guide. "Though no words will be sufficient to express my grief on his death, I whole-heartedly pray to the Almighty for eternal peace of 'Atalji' the patriarch", Prof. Mukhi expressed.

CHIEF MINISTER SARBANANDA SONOWAL: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal expressed his heartfelt condolences on the demise of Atal Bihari Vaypayee, a three-time Prime Minister of the country and one of the country's most respected politicians.

In a statement this evening, Chief Minister Sonowal said that with his death the country has lost a visionary politician, a great humanitarian, who was deeply loved by people across party line. Sonowal said that Vajpayee had a soft corner for Assam and North East. He took keen interest in the development of North East and played an instrumental role in creating DoNER to expedite the overall development of North East. The foundation stone of Bogibeel Project was laid during his tenure as the Prime Minister. Among a series of projects that can be credited to his direct intervention, he dedicated Numaligarh Refinery and Naranarayn Bridge to the Nation. Moreover, his moral support to the cause of Assam Agitation will long be remembered by the people in Assam, Sonowal said.

Remembering his personal association with the former Prime Minister since the time he was a student, Sonowal said that he was personally benefitted from the advice and suggestions of Vajapyee. He also said, "I still bear in mind the time I spent with him as an MLA when he came to lay the foundation stone of Bogibeel bridge way back in 2002"

Sonowal, moreover said that he was a leader of prominence not only at national level, his political prudence is evident in country's foreign policies as well. While he was the Prime Minister, he took country's foreign relations with America and other countries altogether to a different height. He was a statesman who dreamt of a seamless rural connectivity, and therefore, enunciated Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and took the connectivity of villages to a never-before level. He was also instrumental in starting 'East-West Corridor' project. He also had an incomparable track record in enabling country's inclusion in the elite Nuclear Club and registering country's victory in Kargil War. Besides being a prudent politician, he was a good orator, poet and litterateur. Besides, being conferred on Best Parliamentarian Award in 1994, he was honoured with the country's highest civilian award 'Bharat Ratna' and an unending lists of other awards.

Chief Minister Sonowal expressing his empathy with his family members, admirers and followers in this testing time, prayed to the Almighty for eternal peace of the departed soul.

PRAFULLA KUMAR MAHANTA: Former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta condoled the demise of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Mahanta said that he had met Vajpayee at AIIMS in the morning. After the demise of the statesman, Mahanta reflected Vajpayee's close association with the people of Assam. Stating that Vajpayee had a soft corner for the people of Assam, Mahanta said that he had met Vajpayee from close quarters both during his days in the AASU and also during his tenure as Chief Minister of the State. He further said that Vajpayee was jailed in Assam for his support to the Assam agitation. Vajpayee even participated in the Latasil Bihu function, Mahanta pointed out.

Samujjal Bhattacharya: The chief advisor of All Assam Students Union (AASU) Dr Samujjal Bhattacharya, its president Dipanka Kumar Nath, and its general secretary Lurin Jyoti Gogoi in a joint press release have condoled the demise of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The AASU leaders further said that Vajpayee wanted a resolution of the foreigners issue in Assam. "He always stood with the people of Assam during the days of the Assam Agitation," the AASU leaders added.