Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President Amit Shah and BJP veteran LK Advani during the cremation of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with full state honour, at Rashtriya Smriti Sthal in New Delhi. (Image: PTI)
China on Friday paid homage to Atal Bihari Vajpayee, describing him as an outstanding politician who made path-breaking contributions to the development of bilateral relations.
“Vajpayee is an outstanding politician in India and has made path-breaking contributions to the development of Sino-Indian relations,”the foreign ministry said in a statement.
The Chinese side expressed deep condolences over his death to the Indian government and people and to the relatives of Vajpayee, the ministry said in the statement to PTI.
Premier Li Keqiang has sent a condolence message, the ministry said.
Vajpayee visited China in 2003 during which the two countries set up the Special Representative mechanism to resolve the boundary dispute.
Family members and relatives of Atal Bihari Vajpayee during his cremation with full state honour. (Image: PTI)
Amid sultry weather conditions, thousands of people walked along the over seven kilometre route with some showering petals at the carriage. Heavy security was deployed along the route of the procession.
During the procession, people chanted slogans like "Atal Bihari Amar Rahe" as Vajpayee's cortege made its way from the BJP headquarters to the cremation ground.
In a shorttelevised address, President Ram Nath Kovind has paid tribute to Vajpayee.
A sea of supporters attended the funeral procession of Atal Bihari Vajpayee as his mortal remains were taken for cremation to Smriti Sthal. (Image: PTI)
Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has been cremated at the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal, Vijay Ghat.
The former prime minister is being accorded a 21-gun salute.
Vajpayee’s daughter Namita Bhattacharya, is leading the last rites of the former prime minister.
The last rites are nowbeing conducted according to Hindu customs.
The national flag of India, which was draped around the formal prime minister’s remains has been folded and handed over to Vajpayee’s granddaughter.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has paid his last respects.
LK Advani has paid his last respects to Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has paid homage.
Representatives from various countries are paying homage.
The final rites for the former prime minister have begun. The last rites will be conducted according to Hindu rituals.
President Ram Nath Kovind has paid homage to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has paid his last respects to Vajpayee.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has arrived along with Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck to pay their last respects to Vajpayee.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has paid his last respects to Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan have paid their last respects to Vajpayee.
Theheadsof the three services ofIndianArmedForces are paying their last respects to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Vajpayee’s mortal remains have arrived at the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal, Vijay Ghat. The last rites will be conducted according to Hindu rituals. The former prime minister is being accorded a state funeral.
The cortege has arrived at the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal, Vijay Ghat.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Rahul Gandhi have arrived at the Smriti Sthal where Vajpayee’s last rites will be performed.
The funeral procession is now passing the Shantivana Marg, close to Vijay Ghat. The mortal remains of former PM Vajpayee are expected to reach the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal shortly.
Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has arrived in Delhi. He will be attending Vajpayee'sfuneral.
Bhutan King, Bangladesh FM pay homage to Vajpayee |
Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali also paid their last respects to Atal Bihari Vajpayee earlier today.
Sri Lanka's Acting Foreign Minister Lakshman Kiriella, Nepal's Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali, Pakistan's acting information minister Syed Zafar Ali and a senior minister from Afghanistan are also expected to arrive to pay their respects to Vajpayee, official sources told PTI.
Route being taken byAtalBihari Vajpayee's funeral procession has been blocked for regular traffic. Prime Minister NarendraModiand BJPnational president AmitShah are walkingbehind the cortege,towards Rashtriya Smriti Sthal, Vijay Ghat. (Image courtesy: Google Maps)
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The funeral procession reaches Delhi Congress office.
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PM Modi and BJP Chief Amit Shah look somber as they walk alongside the hearse carrying the mortal remains of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
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Thousands throng the procession to get a last glimpse of their "most loved" Prime Minister, shower petals.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJPnational president AmitShah lead Atal Bihari Vajpayee's funeral procession.
Swami Agnivesh assaulted on his way to pay tribute to the former Prime Minister, reports News18.
Indo-US ties progressed to a new level during Vajpayee Bush regime: US Ambassador
The Indo-US relationship progressed to a new level under Atal Bihari Vajpayee and George Bush though the two countries used to be at an arm's length before that, US Ambassador Kenneth I Juster said.
The ambassador was speaking during a discussion here on "Evolution of US India relationship" with Lalit Mansingh, former Foreign Secretary of India and Ambassador to the United States.
"The Indo-US relationship used to be at an arm's length before the times of Vajpayee and Bush, who took the relationship to a new level," the US Ambassador said.
Great man Vajpayee strove for resolution of issues concerning Kashmir, say separatists
A section of separatist leaders here today said former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was a "great man" and a rare leader with "humaneness" who sought a resolution of the issues related to Kashmir. "I am sad to hear about the demise of A B Vajpayee ji.
Atalji was indeed a rare Indian leader who had the humaneness to seek the resolution of the festering Kashmir dispute in the wide ambit of humanity and not within the confines of a constitution," chairman of moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays a wreath on the mortal remains of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as he pays last respects at BJP headquarters, in New Delhi on Friday. (Image: PTI)
Pakistan pays tribute to 'statesman' Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) spokesman said in a statement that "we have learnt with sadness the passing away of Atal Bihari Vajpayee".
"Mr Vajpayee was a renowned statesman who contributed to bringing a change in India-Pakistan relations and remained a key supporter of SAARC and regional cooperation for development," the spokesman said.
Advisory issued by Delhi Police:
DDU Marg from ITO red light upto Minto Bridge is closed for traffic movement.
Traffic is normal near India Gate and all roads in New Delhi area are opened for traffic movement.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP supremo Amit Shah and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh receive the mortal remains of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the BHP Headquarters in New Delhi.
Delhi High court andall District courts to function till 1 pm today. The competent authority has decided that there will be half-day holiday today to allow officials andstaff to attend the funeral of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Smriti Sthal. –ANI
Prime Minister NarendraModihas reached BJPHeadquarters at DeenDayalUpadhyayMarg in New Delhi, CNN-News18has reported.
Country lost innocent politician in Vajpayee: Uddhav Thackeray
The NDA had remained strong because former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to take everybody along, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray said today while condoling the death of the BJP patriarch.
Terming Vajpayee as an "innocent politician" and the "Bheeshm Pitamah", Thackeray said the former PM remained unaffected by ego that comes along with power in politics.
Former PM AtalBihari Vajpayee'scasket is being moved from his residence at Krishna MenonMarg to the BJPheadquarters at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg in New Delhi.
Government announces seven-day state mourning
In its circular, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced: "As a mark of respect to the departed dignitary, it has been decided that seven days of state mourning will be observed throughout India from August 16-22, both days inclusive.
"During this period, the national flag will be flown at half mast throughout India where it is regularly flown and there will be no official entertainment during the period of the state mourning," the Home Ministry said.
Supreme Court and the Registry will observe half-day holiday today andwill sit till 1 pm, in light of the demise of former prime minister AtalBihari Vajpayee. – ANI
Atal Bihari Vajpayee did not allow BJP to swing to extreme right of political spectrum: P Chidambaram
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram today described former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as someone who anchored the BJP close to the middle and did not allow the party to swing to the extreme right of the political spectrum.
Students place candles around a painting featuring India's former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to pay him homage in Mumbai. (Reuters)
The mortal remains of former Prime Minister AtalBihari Vajpayeewill be kept at BJPHeadquarters in New Delhi from 9 am to 1 pm for final tributes. Vajpayee'slast rites to be held at Rashtriya Smriti Sthal at 4pm, CNN-News18has reported.
