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obituary

India loses a great statesman,

poet as Vajpayee dies at 93

The charismatic statesman, who ormer Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna awardee Atal Bihari Vajpayee
navigated the field of politics with passed away at 93 on August 16 at AIIMS Delhi where he was being
treated since last nine weeks. Alarm bells rang when Former Prime
finesse, was perhaps loved more Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee became critical and had been put on life
by his fellow politicians and the F support system after his health deteriorated on August 15.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee, being a diabetic had only one functional kidney. He suf-
common men for his poetic skills fered a stroke in 2009, weakening his cognitive abilities. Later, he developed
that often manifested in his fiery dementia. He was elected as Prime Minister thrice during 1996, 1996-1999 and
speeches, writes tehelka bureau during 1999-2004 — when he completed the full five-year term as a non-Con-
gress Prime Minister. As his health deteriorated, he slowly withdrew himself
from public life and was confined to his residence for years.
Mourning the loss of Vajpayee, PM Narendra Modi tweeted, “India grieves
the demise of our beloved Atal Ji. His passing away marks the end of an era. He
lived for the nation and served it assiduously for decades. My thoughts are with
his family, BJP Karyakartas and millions of admirers in this hour of sadness.
• Premier leader Vajpayee was elected as prime Om Shanti.”
minister thrice during 1996, 1996-1999 and during President Ram Nath Kovind, expressing his condolences, said, “Extremely
1999-2004 sad to hear of the passing of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, our former Prime Min-

Tehelka / 31 august 2018 9 www.Tehelka.com