‘Atal Bihari Vajpayee powered Hyerabad’s infra & tech revolution’

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu led a galaxy of leaders from the two Telugu states in paying homage to departed leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee by describing him as the ‘Bhishma of Indian politics’ who greatly contributed to the development of Hyderabad.

“Several roads and highways were developed during the Vajpayee regime. He was instrumental in the development of IT in Hyderabad, international airport at Shamshabad and Outer Ring Road in Hyderabad. He inaugurated Cyber Towers in Hyderabad. Vajpayee also took the initiative for development of national highway from Tada to Ichapuram in Andhra Pradesh, sanctioning World Bank funds for Velugu project and sanctioning 50,000 tonnes of rice under the food for work programme.”




According to Naidu, Vajpayee played a key role in strengthening BJP, which was confined to 2 seats in 1984 to 270 seats at present. “Though Vajpayee offered eight cabinet berths to TDP, we stayed away from the Union cabinet and offered external support. I played a key role in selecting APJ Abdul Kalam as presidential candidate by discussing with Vajpayee. Vajpayee appointed me chairman of the Micro Irrigation Task Force. I had strong personal attachment with Vajpayee, a great visionary,” said Naidu.

In his condolence message, governor ESL Narasimhan said he was saddened by the demise of Vajpayee. “He was a great visionary, a statesman par excellence, a great orator, poet and above all a great human being, all in one. The passing away of this great son of India is a loss not only to India, but humanity at large. Vajpayee would always be remembered as an astute leader who upheld democratic traditions and values,” Narasimhan said and conveyed his heartfelt condolences to members of the bereaved family.

Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao described Vajpayee as a great parliamentarian who believed in human values and was in politics with values. “His passing away is a great loss not only to the state but also to the entire nation,” KCR said. Offering condolences to Vajpayee, Nandamuri Balakrishna, in his capacity as chairman of Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital & Research Institute, recalled the veteran BJP leader’s presence during the inaugural ceremony of the hospital. “I along with trust board members, doctors and staff, pay homage to the great leader,” Balaiah said.

BJP state leaders, including state president K Laxman, Dattatreya, floor leader G Kishan Reddy and BJP city president N Ramachander Rao, MLA Chintala Ramachandra Reddy garlanded the portrait of Vajpayee at the state BJP office at Nampally and paid rich tributes to the departed leader. BJP leaders later left for Delhi to ta- ke part in the last rites of the former PM. Meanwhile, Nizamabad MP Kalvakuntla Kavitha too expressed grief over the passing away of the former minister.LC chairman Swamy Goud, deputy CM Kadiam Srihari, ministers Harish Rao, Talasani Srinivas Yadav, C Laxma Reddy, Mahender Reddy, G Jagadishwar Reddy, mayor Bonthu Rammohan and senior Congress leader Jana Reddy, expressed condolences.