Uttarakhand mourned the death of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee



DEHRADUN: Notwithstanding their differences, politicians and people from all walks of life in Uttarakhand mourned the death of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee , the creator of the hill state whose mortal remains were consigned to flames in Delhi on Friday. It was in Vajpayee’s tenure that three new states of Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand were formed in 2000.

Even though Congress formed the first elected government of the Himalayan state, Vajpayee gave industrial package to Uttarakhand and also accorded special category status to it.

Vajpayee had a special liking for the Himalayan state and he was a frequent visitor to Uttarakhand, even when it was a part of Uttar Pradesh.

Political analyst Jay Singh Rawat told TOI, “Since 1996, he had taken up the issue of creating a new state. Despite strong opposition from some friends and political outfits, Vajpayee tabled the bill in Parliament for creation of Uttarakhand in 1998. However, his plans could not materlise then. However, when he became PM for full term, he again brought the bill, which was passed in the House with the support of Congress and three new states of Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand were carved out.”

Jay recalled that before and after creation of Uttarakhand, Vajpayee visited the region several times. “Because of his simple and down to earth nature, journalists, people and politicians had no problem in meeting him. People of Uttarakhand have a special liking for him,” he added.

The analyst added that the former PM was mesmerized by the beauty of the region.

Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, who was in Delhi to attend the final rites, said: “He has left behind a vacuum which will be hard to fill. Vajpayee dedicated his life for the people of Uttarakhand. He made the country a nuclear power and a force to reckon with.”

In his tweet, Rawat said that he was always in favour of smaller states and it was in his tenure that Uttarakhand was created.

Recalling his experience, former chief minister Harish Rawat said: “He was an encyclopedia and I will always cherish the moments we spent together in Parliament.” In his tweet, the former CM said that his demise is a heart-breaking truth and “we have lost a person with overwhelming human values.”

