Vajpayee funeral Live Updates: Rahul Gandhi pays tribute to Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence

— By FPJ Web Desk | Aug 17, 2018 08:55 am

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, one of India’s most charismatic leaders who led the nation through several crises and held together with a tenuous coalition with his inclusive politics, passed away on Thursday (August 16). He was 93. Vajpayee, a bachelor, is survived by his adopted daughter Namita Kaul Bhattacharya. His death was announced by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) hospital where he was admitted June 11 with a variety of ailments.

Hundreds of people queued up here outside the residence of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee this morning to pay their last respects to the departed leader. Heavy security arrangements, including the deployment of police, traffic, and paramilitary personnel, were in place around the 6-A Krishna Menon Marg bungalow in the Lutyens Delhi. The government has announced seven-day state mourning as a mark of respect. In a circular, the Home Ministry also said national flag would be flown at half-mast from August 16 for seven days across India and a state funeral would be accorded to Vajpayee. The last rites of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will take place at 4 pm on August 17 at Rashtriya Smriti Sthal.

Here are some Updates on Vajpayee’s funeral:


8.55 am: Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu pays tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence in Delhi.

8.55 am: Congress President Rahul Gandhi pays tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence in Delhi.


8.40 am: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval pays tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence in Delhi.

8.35 am: Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba pays tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence in Delhi.

8.30 am: ‘Thaggu ke Laddu’ a sweet shop in Kanpur was often visited by former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Owner says, ‘whenever BJP leaders in Kanpur used to go to meet him they would get laddoos packed for him. He loved food.’ (16.08.18)

8.25 am: Army Chief Bipin Rawat pays tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence in Delhi.

8.15 am: Delhi police has made elaborate security arrangements for the last rites procession. It will be ensured that the people who come to pay last respect & the commuters face minimum inconvenience & that there is no compromise with security: Delhi DCP Madhur Verma

8.10 am: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat pays tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence in Delhi.

8.05 am: Javed Akhtar & Shabana Azmi arrive at former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s residence to pay last respects. Javed Akhtar says,’very rare that a politician is respected across party lines. People with different ideology have also come as they love him because he used to love all’

8.00 am: Kerala governor P. Sathasivam & Tamil Nadu governor Banwarilal Purohit pay tributes to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence in Delhi.

7.30 am: Trucks which will be a part of the convoy in which former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s mortal remains will be taken to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters & for funeral.

7.10 am: The American people and I stand with the people of India as we mourn Prime Minister Vajpayee’s passing. Today, we hold the people of India in our thoughts and prayer: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement

7.00 am: On behalf of DMK our leader MK Stalin has come here to pay his respects to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. I recall how certain forces wanted to dismiss the DMK govt & Vajpayee ji stood his ground on democratic principles & said he will never do it: Dayanidhi Maran, DMK in Delhi

6.55 am: DMK leaders MK Stalin & Kanimozhi pay tributes to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence in Delhi.

6.50 am: Lakshman Kiriella, acting minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka will attend former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s funeral.

6.45 am: Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb pays tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence in Delhi.

6.30 am: Mumbai: Lights of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus railway station (CMST) to remain off today as a mark of respect to the departed soul of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.