NEW DELHI/SHILLONG: State BJP Minister AL Hek met former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s daughter Namita Kaul Bhattacharya in the Capital on Saturday, a day after the late leader was cremated, before leaving for Shillong.
“It was a poignant moment when she told me that she still remembers her last visit with Atalji as PM to Shillong,” Hek said after the meeting.
Hek was a minister then in the NCP-led coalition government.
The health minister, who called Vajpayee his “mentor”, along with Home Minister James Sangma reached Delhi on Friday to attend Vajpayee’s last rites.
“We had a simple interaction with her along with other bereaved family members. She also thanked us for coming from such a long distance. I offered flowers from my garden to the mortal remains of Atalji,” said Hek as his eyes moistened.
Speaking to The Shillong Times after returning home, Hek said he was inspired by the veteran leader’s political approach.
“We have learned so many things from his kind of politics and how he was working for the people and the country. As a source of inspiration, he was very compassionate, accommodating and welcomed everyone. He did not see whether one came from a small or a big state. For him, everybody was equal,” he added.
Hek met Vajpayee several times at his residence at the PM’s House and at national executive meetings of the BJP. He also met the veteran politician, who died on Thursday, when the SC/ST committee went to meet him.
Stating that the country lost a tall leader with a loving heart, Hek said in 1998, when Hek was a minister, the two met at the BJP’s national meeting. Hek was then the state BJP president.
