New Delhi: Late Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a ‘titan and a democrat to the core’ said former President Pranab Mukherjee today.
Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi on the other hand said, “India has lost a great son who was loved and respected by millions.”
Pranab Mukherjee in his letter to late Vajpayee’s foster daughter Namita, said: “A democrat to the core, Atalji dominated the Opposition space like a titan and led the Government with aplomb. An inheritor and practitioner of the best traditions and qualities of leadership, in his demise the nation has lost a great son. An era that will always be fondly remembered has passed away,” the Hindu reported.
Only few leaders had visited Mr Vajpayee during his treatment in AIIMS and Congress Chief Rahul had too a visit to Mr Vajpayee.
Responding to his sudden demise, Mr Gandhi said, “Former PM, Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, was loved and respected by millions. My condolences to his family & all his admirers. We will miss him.”
While former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said it was Mr. Vajpayee who never allowed the BJP party to go extreme right.
“He led his party to its first victory in national elections and established the credentials of the BJP to run the Central government… As long as he was at the helm, he resolutely anchored the BJP close to the middle and did not allow the party to swing to the extreme right of the political spectrum,” he said.
Not only did he looked after his party he never took the credit for opposition party’s work.
Opposition leader Ghulam Nabi Azad paying his respects to Mr Vajpayee said: “He never hesitated in giving full credit to his Opposition party leaders whenever due.”