GUWAHATI: Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi on Thursday led the state leaders in mourning the death of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, saying that the “nation had lost an eminent statesman” , who had earned the unique distinction of being the first non-Congress Prime Minister who led the country three times as Prime Minister.
Prof. Mukhi said, “The sagacity and leadership of the former Prime Minister at both the national and international levels have been a source of inspiration and guidance.”
“Atal Behari Vajpayee in 1977 as India’s foreign minister surprised one and all in the UN General Assembly by speaking in Hindi. The way he conveyed so much in so few words left the world dumbfounded. He spoke about Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam at that level and made the intentions of the country clear at the world forum. This speech made many people realize the importance of the native tongue and also placed an Indian Language on the political stage of the modern world for the first time,” The Governor said.
“During his tenure as the Prime Minister he made a bold yet subtle statement regarding India’s nuclear capability by going for Pokhran test thereby helped India to ensure its entry in Nuclear Club. He however, made it unambiguously clear that the country’s nuclear repository and policy ‘is for self-defense and the country which is a believer of non-violence in no way will be in nuclear race with any country’ and India will not use the nuclear power first but will be used as self-defense mechanism,” Prof. Mukhi added.
Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Assembly Debabrata Saikia expressed grief and said that the country had “lost a stalwart who embodied the best values of parliamentary democracy”.
Saikia said that Vajpayee was admired and respected even by his political opponents because he always placed national interests above party interests.
“As the Prime Minister, Vajpayee did not hesitate to remind then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to follow ‘Raj Dharma’ in the wake of riots in that state,” said Saikia.
Assam’s Industries and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowari also condoled Vajpayee’s death in Delhi at the age of 93 after a prolonged illness.
“He was an iconic statesman and stalwart of Indian politics. A revered politician, Vajpayee was widely appreciated in national and international arenas for his acumen and foresight. One of the most popular Indian public figures, Vajpayee was loved, appreciated and regarded as a role model by generations of the country’s leaders. His demise is a huge loss for the nation,” said Patowari.