The 93-year-old Bharatiya Janata Party leader breathed his last at 5:05PM, said a notification from AIIMS
Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee passed away on Thursday evening. The 93-year-old Bharatiya Janata Party leader breathed his last at 5:05PM, said a notification from AIIMS.
Reacting to his demise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "I have no words, I am filled with emotions right now. Our respected Atal ji is no more. Every moment of his life he had dedicated to the nation."
"India grieves the demise of our beloved Atal Ji.
His passing away marks the end of an era. He lived for the nation and served it assiduously for decades. My thoughts are with his family, BJP Karyakartas and millions of admirers in this hour of sadness. Om Shanti," PM Modi further said.
Prime Minister Modi took to Twitter and said that Vajpayee's demise is a personal and irreplaceable loss for him. "I have countless fond memories with him. He was an inspiration to Karyakartas like me. I will particularly remember his sharp intellect and outstanding wit", he tweeted.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee was admitted at the premier All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on June 11 with a kidney tract infection, urinary tract infection, low urine output and chest congestion.
Several political leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah, Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Jitendra Singh, Harsh Vardhan, Suresh Prabhu, Smriti Irani, JP Nadda reached AIIMS to enquire about Vajpayee's health. Among other prominent persons who visited Vajpayee were BJP leaders LK Advani, Shahnawaz Hussain, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Samajwadi Party's Kiranmoy Nanda, and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Kejriwal later cancelled his birthday celebration event. Several CMs including Mamta Banerjee, Naveen Patnaik (Orissa), Vasundhara Raje (Rajasthan) too rushed to Delhi.
Vajpayee, who led the National Democratic Alliance government from 1998-2004, was the first ever person from the BJP to have become the nation's Prime Minister. Vajpayee served as Prime Minister thrice -- briefly in 1996, and then for two terms between 1998 and 2004.
His birthday, which falls on December 25, is celebrated as 'Good Governance Day' by the BJP. In 2014, he was awarded with prestegious Bharat Ratna award.
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 "Atal Bihari Vajpayee passes away: PM Narendra Modi says 'end of an era'")
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