Gujarat political leaders reminisce days spent with Atal Bihari Vajpayee

A prayer meeting organised to pay tributes to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who passed away last week, saw a number of political leaders reminiscing the days they had spent with the popular leader, who was commonly known as Ajatashatru, or someone who had no enemies.

A galaxy of leaders, right from Governor OP Kohli, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Deputy CM Nitin Patel, Union Ministers Parshottam Rupala, and Manuskh Mandaviya, former CMs Keshubhai Patel & Shankarsinh Vaghela, leader of opposition Paresh Dhanani, ministers, MPs, MLAs, and religious leaders attended the prayer meet.

Kohli described Vajpayee's death as an end of an era, and a huge loss to the country.

CM Rupani said it was difficult to believe that "Atal ji is not between us any more" and that his popularity across party lines was unprecedented for any political leader.

"Atal ji dedicated his life to the nation. His thoughts will continue to inspire us for the rest of our lives," he said.

Keshubhai Patel, who worked closely with Vajpayee right from his Jan Sangh days, recalled the struggles they had faced together. He also spoke about the Emergency in his emotional speech.

Shankarsinh Vaghela, a former BJP leader, said that Vajpayee was ajatashatru in the truest sense. He too recalled the early days of the BJP and Vajpayee and other leaders who had built it from scratch.

On Wednesday, Vajpayee's ashes will be immersed in the Sabarmati river. After being brought to Ahmedabad in the afternoon, the urn containing the ashes will be taken to Khadia, from where it would be taken to Sabarmati by means of a procession.