Final goodbye: Vajpayee's ashes reach Lucknow; to be immersed in all UP's major rivers

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Union minister of state Manoj Sinha reached Lucknow with last mortal remains of the former Prime Minister Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Showering rose petals, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Governor Ram Naik, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, several ministers and BJP state leaders received the urn carrying the last mortal remains of the former prime minister at the Amaui Airport.

Lucknow was the Karmbhoomi of Vajpayee. He was five-time member of Lok Sabha in a row since 1991 till 2004 when took retirement from active politics after BJP’s defeat. Ironically, his protégé Lalji Tandon, was taking oath as new Bihar Governor on the day when his ashes were brought to his Karmabhoomi.

From Amausi Airport, an ‘Asthi Kalash Yatra’ would begin which will go through main thoroughfares of the late leader’s parliamentary constituency and places which were closely associated with him. It will culminate at Hanuman Setu on the banks of the River Gomti. After a condolence meeting, his ashes will be immersed in river Gomti for which he was very concerned and had sanctioned Rs 300 crore for its leaning when he was the Prime Minister.

On Friday, his ashes will be immersed in Saryu river in Ayodhya, Rapti in Balrampur, Ganga in Kanpur and Varanasi, Sangam in Allahabad and other main rivers of Uttar Pradesh.

Earlier, the Monsoon Session of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, which began from Thursday, was adjourned after paying tribute to the former Prime Minister Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee and adopting a condolence motion.

After observing two-minute silence, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath tabled a condolence motion to pay homage to the BJP stalwart in the State Aseembly. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief said that Vajpayee’s significant contribution in Indian politics and culture will be long-remembered.