Punjab govt declares holiday on Aug 17 as mark of respect to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee

The Punjab government has declared holiday in all its offices, boards, corporations and educational institutions on August 17 as a mark of respect to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who passed away on Thursday.

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh mourned the demise of Vajpayee, describing him as a towering personality who would always remain a beacon to inspire the young politicians to tread the path of value-based politics.

“Atal ji was a multifaceted personality and a fine human being with the qualities of the head and heart,” Amarinder said in a condolence message, terming him as a “true statesman, a great scholar, an eminent poet besides a heartthrob of millions of countrymen”.

He said Vajpayee’s stint as PM would be remembered by one and all for his path-breaking initiatives such as Pradhanmantri Gramin Sadak Yojana, Sarv Siksha Abhiyan, Telecom Revolution and introduction of Fiscal Responsibility Act, which transformed the destiny of India. Recalling his personal ties with Vajpayee, the chief minister said: “As Prime Minister, Atal ji had extremely cordial and warm relations with all the chief ministers irrespective of their party affiliations and treated them equally without any prejudice of regionalism.”

The state government also declared mourning in memory of Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the lines of Government of India.

First Published: Aug 16, 2018 20:26 IST