NAGPUR: One of the tallest statesman-politician commanding respect across the political divide, Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s roots in the RSS remained firmly in tact till end. For, he was also the first Swayamsevak to become country’s Prime Minister.
Vajpayee had highest regard for his mentor, RSS Pracharak
Narayanrao Tarte who introduced him into the Sangh in 1939, in Gwalior. Years later, on becoming PM, Vajpayee, who fondly called Tarte “Mamu” invited him to stay with him in Delhi in 2004.
Vajpayee also visited him at RSS Mahal (Karyalaya) office to enquire about his health in 2004. His public rallies were hugely attended and the last one he addressed in Nagpur at Kasturchand Park was in 2004. His last visit to the RSS headquarters was in 2007 for the Guruji Golwalkar centenary celebrations function.
“Old Tarte was to receive national award for journalism given by Hindustan Samachar. I escorted him to Delhi for the award function and we had the honour of being Prime Minister’s guest at his house for three days,” Satish Vate, who is now Mahal office in-charge, reminisced.
For all BJP leaders, he was a source of inspiration. On Thursday afternoon, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis cut short his visit to Chimur and rushed to Nagpur from where along with Union minister
Nitin Gadkari, state finance minister Sudhir Mugantiwar, Union minister of state for home Hansraj Ahir, flew to Delhi to have a last glimpse of the legendary leader.
Ironically, the Sangh remained aloof from the Vajpayee government and its then Sarsanghchalak KS Sudarshan was a stringent critic of the NDA government led by Vajpayee. But even at that time he had strong supporters like Mohan Bhagwat, the then general secretary of the RSS, who stood firmly with Vajpayee and his policies.
“We feel like an elder and most loved person of the family has left us,” ex-MP Ajay Sancheti summed up.
City Congress leader and ex-MP Vilas Muttemwar remembers fondly how on the last day of NDA government in Parliament in 2004, Vajpayee accorded international status to Nagpur airport paving the way for creating MIHAN. “While leaving
Lok Sabha when I stood up to thank him, he patted me and said in Marathi, “Jhala na tumcha kaam,” Muttemwar remembers. Gadkari was tasked by Vajpayee to plan the Golden Quadrilateral and PM Rural Roads projects.
