Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who had been admitted to the AIIMS hospital in New Delhi for the past few weeks, died on Thursday. He was 93. Condolences poured in for the former PM who was one of the founding members of the Jan Sangh in 1951.
Last rites at Rashtriya Smriti Sthal
Last rites of Mr. Vajpayee will take place at 4 p.m. on Friday at the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal, BJP chief Amit Shah has said.
Scene at the BJP HQ in New Delhi on Friday. | Photo Credit: R.V. Moorthy
The body of the BJP veteran was kept at his official residence 6 A Krishna Menon Marg on Thursday to allow people to pay their homage. It would be taken to the BJP headquarters at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg on August 17 morning.
The Rashtriya Smriti Sthal on the banks of the Yamuna, is in between the samadhis of Jawaharlal Nehru (Shanti Van) and Lal Bahadur Shastri (Vijay Ghat). It is a common place for erecting memorials for former Presidents, Prime Ministers and others, with the approval of the Union Cabinet.
Delhi govt. offices, schools to remain close
All Delhi government offices, schools and other institutions shall remain closed on Friday, as mark of respect, said Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
Cabinet condoles Vajpayee’s death
The Union Cabinet condoled the demise of Vajpayee, official sources said. As per convention, the Cabinet passed a resolution, condoling the demise of the BJP veteran. When towering leaders pass away, the Cabinet meets to condole their demise and pass a resolution.
Preparations underway in front of Atal bihari Vajpayee's residence in New Delhi | Photo Credit: Sandeep Saxena
A brief moment of silence was also observed, the sources said.
A State funeral would be accorded to Vajpayee and a half-day holiday would be observed in all central government offices on August 17.
A seven-day state mourning has been announced by the government as a mark of respect to the departed leader. In a circular, the Home Ministry said the National Flag would be flown at half-mast across the country for seven days.
“As a mark of respect to the departed dignitary, it has been decided that seven days of State mourning will be observed throughout India from August 16 to 22, both days inclusive.
“During this period, the national flag will be flown at half mast throughout India where it is regularly flown and there will be no official entertainment during the period of the State mourning,” the Home Ministry said.
The National Flag would fly at half-mast at all the Indian missions abroad on August, the day of Vajpayee’s funeral.
Seven-day mourning will be observed
A seven-day state mourning is being observed throughout India beginning from August 16 to 22, said an official statement. During this period the national flag will be flown at half mast throughout India where it is regularly flown. It has also been decided that the State funeral will be accorded to Mr. Vajpayee.
An ambulance carrying the body of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee arrives at his residence in New Delhi on August 16, 2018. | Photo Credit: Reuters
Uttar Pradesh government declared closure of all offices, schools and colleges on Friday as a mark of respect.
Advani condoles Vajpayee's death
L.K. Advani, then Deputy Prime Minister, presents a life-size portrait of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the latter’s 78th birthday in New Delhi on December 25, 2002. | Photo Credit: Rajeev Bhatt
“I cherish the memories of my long association with him, right from our days as pracharaks of the RSS, to the inception of Bharatiya Jana Singh, the struggle of the dark months during the Emergency leading to the formation of the Janata Party and later the emergence of the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980," said L.K. Advani in a statement.
When the Janata Party collapsed in 1979, Vajpayee and several former RSS leaders like L.K. Advani, Bhairon Singh Shekawat and Murli Manohar Joshi formed the BJP. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Archives
Vajpayee's life in pictures
With a poetic bent, and at the head of a coalition of political parties that were ideologically disparate whom he dealt with deftly, Mr. Vajpayee has been termed the “right man in the wrong party.” Here is the life and times of former Prime Minister in pictures.
A poetic orator
Known as much for his meaningful pauses as for his poetic oratory, Mr. Vajpayee’s legacy is now in the domain of history writers. What he says of himself and his long career in India’s public life is probably best encapsulated by some lines from his poem: “Kaal ke kapaal par likhta mitaata hoon, geet naya gaata hoon (I write and erase lines on the forehead of time, I sing a new song)”. Here is obituary written by Nistula Hebbar.
Vajpayee, a 10-time Lok Sabha member
Atal Bihari Vajpayee had a unique distinction of being a member of Parliament for 12 terms -- a 10-time Lok Sabha member and twice of Rajya Sabha. The only time he lost a Lok Sabha election was against Madhavrao Scindia of Congress from Gwalior in 1984, when he lost by a margin of close to 2 lakh votes. Vajpayee represented Lucknow in the 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th Lok Sabha from 1991 to 2009.
Vajpayee, the 1st Indian leader to address UNGA in Hindi
Mr.Vajpayee, the first External Affairs Minister to deliver a speech in Hindi at the UN General Assembly, effectively raised India’s stand on key issues like nuclear disarmament, state-sponsored terrorism and reforms at the world body.
(with inputs from PTI)