Published On : Thu, Aug 16th, 2018

Vajpayee’s Demise: Govt Declares Seven-day Mourning

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New Delhi, August 16: Government has declared seven-day national mourning till August 22 marking the demise of former Prime Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) patriarch Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who breathed his last on Thursday. During this period, the National Flag will fly half-mast in all government offices across the country. The government has also decided to accord state funeral to the departed leader.

As a mark of respect, Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP govt has decided to shut all govt offices, schools and other institution in national capital on Friday, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia informed on micro-blogging site Twitter.

The 93-year-old leader, who had faded from public life for more than a decade was admitted to national capital’s AIIMS with urinary tract infection on June 11. He breathed his last at 5.05 PM today. If reports are to be believed, his last rites will be performed at around 5 pm near Rajghat on Friday.

Confirming the saddening news, the hospital in a statement said,”It is with profound grief that we inform about the sad demise of Former Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee at 05: 05 pm on 16.08.2018.”

“Shri Vajpayee was admitted in AIIMS on 11.06.2018 and was stable in the last 9 weeks under the care of a team of AIIMS doctors. Unfortunately, his condition deteriorated over the last 36 hours and he was put on life support systems. Despite the best of efforts, we have lost him today. We join the nation in deeply mourning the great loss,” it added.

Describing Vajpayee’s death as “a personal loss”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a tweet said, “Atal Ji’s passing away is a personal and irreplaceable loss for me. I have countless fond memories with him. He was an inspiration to Karyakartas like me. I will particularly remember his sharp intellect and outstanding wit.”

Describing the former Prime Minister’s contribution to the formation of BJP, he added, “It was due to the perseverance and struggles of Atal Ji that the BJP was built brick by brick. He travelled across the length and breadth of India to spread the BJP’s message, which led to the BJP becoming a strong force in our national polity and in several states.”