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Vajpayee treaded path of value-based politics: Punjab CM Capt Amarinder
Atal ji was a multifaceted personality and a fine human being with the qualities of the head and heart: CM
Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday mourned the demise of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, describing him as a towering personality who would always remain a beacon to inspire the young politicians to tread the path of value-based politics.
“Atal ji was a multifaceted personality and a fine human being with the qualities of the head and heart,” Amarinder said in a condolence message, terming him as a “true statesman, a great scholar and an eminent poet, besides a heartthrob of millions of countrymen”.
He said Vajpayee’s stint as PM would be remembered by one and all for his path-breaking initiatives such as Pradhanmantri Gramin Sadak Yojana, Sarv Siksha Abhiyan, telecom revolution and introduction of Fiscal Responsibility Act, which transformed the destiny of India. Recalling his personal ties with Vajpayee, the CM said: “As Prime Minister, Atal ji had extremely cordial and warm relations with all the chief ministers irrespective of their party affiliations and treated them equally without any prejudice of regionalism.”
Tallest Indian I have worked with: Badal
Former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh described Vajpayee as “the tallest Indian I have worked with and one of the greatest statesmen on the world stage”.
In a condolence message, he said, “India will forever remember Vajpayee as a symbol of peace, communal harmony and of India’s rich diversity. He represented the spirit of India like very few others have done. India today has lost a sage-statesman and perhaps her most glorious yet humblest son. It will take a long, long while to fill the void created by this loss,” Badal said.
The Akali leader said that as an ambassador of the country, Vajpayee quickly won over even the staunchest of enemies. “Few will ever display the courage to pursue peace like Vajpayee did. His bus journey to Lahore symbolized that courage as did his approach to the Kashmir issue,” he said.
Recalling his long association with the ex-PM, Badal said he was deeply impressed by the sobriety, patience and compassion which Vajpayee brought to bear on his approach to solving the vexed problems facing the country. He had the capacity to overcome the seemingly impossible problems and resolve the insurmountable conflicts with his disarming simplicity, sympathy and humanitarian embrace, said the former CM.
Badal said, “He taught us how relevant even in politics are the sacred human sentiments such as love, understanding, forbearance and tireless patience. He has left a deep and indelible print on the psyche of our nation and its people.”
