Ashes of the late PM was first carried in a 6 km-long procession from Khadia, then immersed in Sabarmati
Crowds amassed to pay their last tribute to late prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, as his ashes were immersed in Sabarmati river on Wednesday evening. People in Khadia fondly recalled moments spent with the leader.
The ashes of the late PM are to be immersed in about 100 rivers across the city. A part of the ashes was flown from Delhi to Ahmedabad airport, from where they were carried to Golvad area in Khadia locality of the city, considered as the origin of Jan Sangh and BJP in Gujarat. Therefrom, a procession was taken out covering a distance of about 6 km and finally, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani immersed the ashes in Sabarmati river near Ellis Bridge.
People came out in large numbers to pay their tributes to the departed leader. They chanted 'Bharat Mata Ki Jay' and 'Atalji Amar Rahe', accompanied by bhajans along the procession.
Prominent leaders who took part in the procession were Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, union ministers Parshottam Rupala, Mansukh Mandaviya, state ministers Kaushik Patel, Bhupendrasinh Chudasma, Pradeepsinh Jadeja, state BJP chief Jitu Vaghani, Ahmedabad Mayor Bijal Patel, former union minister Harin Pathak, state BJP spokesman Bharat Pandya, and former Rajya Sabha member Surendra Patel, among others.
AMC to develop Atal Ghat on riverfront
The location on Sabarmati riverfront, where the ashes of Atal Bihari Vajpayee were immersed, will be developed as 'Atal Ghat' by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), CM Rupani announced while addressing the masses. "The kind of response received is a clear indication that Atalji is 'Hriday Samrat' of the masses," said Rupani.
Vaghani arrived at airport with ashes
BJP state president Jitu Vaghani arrived at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 3.10 pm with Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s ashes on Wednesday. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama were present at the venue along with other leaders. The airport had heavy bandobast of police and one corner had a photograph of the deceased leader, where people were offering rose petals to pay their tributes.
We had taken lunch together at the residence of a BJP leader about two decades ago. Vajpayeeji paid condolences when local corporator Ghanshyam Mehta passed away. Despite being the prime minister, he was always in touch with grass roots workers.
—Vinod Soni, advocate
Vajpayeeji was my father’s friend and often used to sit in the Jan Sangh office nearby. My father would pick him up often when he would arrive in the city. In 1995, we had had lassi together.
—Sanjay Jain, resident
I cried a lot when I heard of his demise. Vajpayeeji compromised on his family life to work in the interest of the society. My late husband was also a Jan Sangh worker, that’s how I took interest in politics.
—Indira Jani, resident
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