Maharashtra Governor pays tribute to Atal Behari Vajpayee; ‘Atal Ji was dearest national leader’: Vidyasagar Rao

The Governor of Maharashtra CH. Vidyasagar Rao has expressed deepest condolences on the demise of former Prime Minister of India Bharat Ratna Atal Behari Vajpyee in New Delhi on Thursday (16th Aug). The Governor has cancelled all his programmes in Mumbai and is rushing to New Delhi.

In a condolence message, Vidyasagar Rao, who had served as Minister of State for Home, Industry and Commerce in the Ministry led by Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee, has said,

“Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee Ji was one of the most towering political geniuses to have dominated the political space in India after Independence. He was a consummate Parliamentarian, an astute statesman, an orator par excellence and a warm-hearted person.

Under the leadership of Atal Behari Vajpayee Ji, India asserted its rightful position as a global leader.

At the personal level, Vajpayee Ji was an idol and my main inspiration to enter into public life. In the year 1975, I was the District President of Jan Sangh in Karimnagar in Telangana. Vajpayee Ji had addressed a massive public meeting in Karimnagar. A couple of months later, emergency was declared and we were arrested. After almost 23 years, I had the honour of becoming a Minister of State in the cabinet of Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee.

In his demise, India has lost the most admired and respected ‘Bhishma Pitamah’ of public life; while I have lost my dearest leader.

On behalf of the people of Maharashtra and on my own behalf, I pay my most respectful tributes to the memory of late Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee.”