Chennai: Former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee’s ashes will brought to Tamilnadu tomorrow to be immersed in Cauvery, Vaigai, Bhavani and Kaniyakumari shores.
Vajpayee was laid to rest, with full State honours on Friday, in a ceremony marked by emotion and ritual, preceded by a public procession through the heart of Delhi which was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Namita Bhattacharya, Vajpayee’s foster daughter, lit the pyre, amid tears, as South Asia and India’s tallest political leaders grieved in silence, paying their tribute to the three-time former Prime Minister and an icon of modern India.
President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, PM Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, former PM Manmohan Singh, Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah, Congress president Rahul Gandhi, senior BJP leader and one of Vajpayee’s oldest political colleagues, LK Advani were among those present at the funeral.
Tamilnadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and DMK leader MK Stalin paid their last respects to Vajpayee.
The BJP has decided to immerse his ashes in 100 rivers across the country including Cauvery, Vaigai, Bhavani among others. To collect his ashes, Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan and BJP MP L Ganesan have gone to Delhi.
Speaking to media persons, Pon Radhakrishnan, said, “Vajpayee had great love for Tamilnadu. His ashes will be brought to Tamilnadu tomorrow to be immersed in rivers here. He was a tall leader and a great Statesman. He will be missed by the entire nation.”
State unit president of the party, Tamilisai Soundararajan said, “Vajpayee’s ashes will be immersed at six places in Tamilnadu, including Vaigai river in Madurai, Cauvery in Trichy, Bhavani river in Coimbatore and Kaniyakumari waters.”