Several political, social organizations here on Friday mourned death of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who after prolonged illness breathed last on Thursday evening at AIIMS Delhi.
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) held a condolence meeting to mourn the demise of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee here at party headquarters.
The meeting was presided over by JKPCC chief, G A Mir.
After paying floral tributes a two minute silence was observed as a mark of respect to the departed soul.
Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (PDP) senior leader Puneet Singh Jamwal in his condolences message said that Vajpayee had led his government in giving India its best years of peace and prosperity.
He said “In his death the country lost a statesman, leader, poet, orator and a great human being who gave country many firsts which are still being counted as stepping stones of success stories.”
Jamwal said Vajpayee’s decision to conduct nuclear tests at Pokhran, economic reforms, building highways, connecting rivers, starting Sarv Shiksha Abhiyaan and most importantly making efforts to build cordial relations with Pakistan will go down the history as India’s best developing years. He added that his outreach to Kashmir with a view of ‘Insaniyat, Jamhuriyat, Kashmiriyat’ still reverberates and many leaders take a cue from it.
Singh said it was during the tenure of Vajpayee that both houses of Indian Parliament witnessed debates and discussions on important subjects. The oratory skills of Atal Bihari Vajayee will be remembered for ages. He added that in the death of Vajpayee, the nation lost a statesman whose loss is irreparable. He hoped that political outfits will learn from his life and give country a stable, peaceful and developing era.
Former union minister and senior BJP leader Prof Chaman Lal Gupta in his message said Vajpayee was the only Prime Minister, who was equally popular in all the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir State.
Prof Lal said, “Vajpayee was a true statesman as in 1999 he won the Kargil War by demonstrating great courage but for peace latter on he engaged the General Musharraf in a dialogue and brought him to a position that he publically announced in 2003, that no soil under control of Pakistan would be allowed for any cross border violence.”
Jammu Warriors Front chairman, Rajesh Gupta in a condolence message described Atal Bihari Vajpayee as a towering personality.
“Vajpayee was a towering personality in our national life. Throughout his life, he stood for democratic values and demonstrated this commitment in all his acts, whether as a parliamentarian, a cabinet minister, or Prime Minister of India. He was a fascinating orator, a leader of great vision, a patriot to the core for whom the national interest was paramount,” Rajesh Gupta said.
Meanwhile, later in the evening, after the final rights and rituals of the stalwart at Delhi, state BJP organized “Sharadhanjali Sabha” here at its party headquarter, Trikuta Nagar.
Prominent faces of state BJP expressed their feelings, love and emotions for the great soul in limited but touching words. Those who expressed their thoughts while speaking their heart out were BJP state general secretary (Org) Ashok Kaul, former ministers Sat Sharma, Abdul Ghani Kohli, Bali Bhagat, Satish Sharma, Suresh Jamwal, S Varinderjit Singh and Chander Mohan Sharma.
BJP State President, Ravinder Raina, who was at Delhi to attend the final rights, termed Atal ji as the tallest leader of the time. He said that this is a huge loss for our nation and added that although, Atal ji is no more in this world but he shall remain alive in the hearts, breath and blood of all Indians. This is irreparable loss, which even the time is not capable to heal, he said and added that this is the end of an era.
Ashok Kaul painted the extraordinary life sketch of Atalji while throwing lights on his life events especially those associated with the Jammu and Kashmir. He said that Vajpayee will always remain alive in the soul of “Bharat”. He said that Atal ji was a “Yug Purush”, great poet, statesman, mentor of millions. He was such a magician of words, who with his simplicity, got his signature imprinted on the heart of every single Indian.
Sat Sharma expressing deep shock said country has lost an exceptional soul, who was true to the core of heart, winning everyone with love. He said that nobody can take the place of Atal ji. He said that Atal ji will be remembered for the countless centuries to come. He said that Atal ji was a friend of everyone and foe of none, who was admired even among the persons with differing ideologies.
Harinder Gupta, Parmod Kapahi, Dr D K Manyal, Rajeev Charak, Arun Gupta, Dr Narinder Singh, Yudhvir Sethi, Aseem Gupta, Sanjay Baru, Rajinder Sharma, Praduman Singh, Dalip[ Parihar, Brig Anil Gupta, S S Bijral, Dr Suresh Ajay Magotra, Tahir Choudhary, Tilak Raj Gupta, Arvind Gupta, Jaidev Rajwal, Dr Pardeep Mahotra, Surinder Choudhary, Rakesh Mahajan, Suresh Sharma, Purnima Sharma, Rajni Sethi, Kulbhushan Mohtra, Bharat Bhushan, Karan Sharma, Baldev Billawaria, Ayodhya Gupta, Omi Khajuria, Chandji Bhat, Naresh Sharma, N D Rajwal, Surinder Sharma, Prof. Varinder Gupta, Dr Nirmal Kamal, Subhash Jandyal, Bawa Sharma, Sheila Handoo, Lalit Moza, Adv Hunar Gupta, Adv Bhanu Partap Jasrotia, Subhash Gupta were amongst the other prominent faces who remembered the departed soul with wet eyes.