President writes to Vajpayee's daughter
New Delhi, Aug 17 : President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday wrote to Atal Bihari Vajpayee's foster daughter to condole the former Prime Minister's death and recounted incidents that made Vajpayee a "Renaissance man of Indian politics".
"My condolences at the passing of Atal Bihari Vajpayee; my heartfelt emotions are with you and others in the family in this moment of profound tragedy. Atalji's death is, of course, a personal loss for you and others at home but it is also a personal loss for me," Kovind said in his letter to Namita Kaul Bhattacharya.
Kovind recounted how Vajpayee's charisma inspired him to join politics after giving up his legal career.
"It was his stature and dignity that attracted me to public life, as I gave up the legal profession to become his colleague. Working with him was an unforgettable experience. Years later, when I called on him after being elected the President of India, he was bedridden, but responded as only he could with a movement of his eyes. Silently, I felt, he blessed me," Kovind said.
Vajpayee, who passed away at AIIMS here on Thursday at the age of 93, was cremated on Friday with full state honours at the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal, where people turned out in the tens of thousands to pay tribute.
Kovind, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi led political leaders cutting across party lines and foreign dignitaries in bidding adieu to the departed leader.
Calling Vajpayee a "Renaissance man of Indian politics", Kovind recounted Vajpayee's "decisive leadership" and the innumerable roles he played in people's lives.
"Atalji's loss has also been felt in millions of homes across the country. He was our much loved former Prime Minister, a national leader of rare distinction and a statesman of modern India.
"In his long and distinguished public career, he touched innumerable lives in innumerable ways -- as a freedom fighter and an intellectual, as a writer and a poet, as a parliamentarian and an administrator, and finally as Prime Minister. He was truly the 'Renaissance man of Indian politics'," Kovind said.
"The Bharat Ratna conferred on him in 2015 was a fitting manifestation of India's affection and gratitude. The loss of this large-hearted, larger-than-life leader will be sensed not only in India but across the world," he said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
PM Modi speaks to Iranian president, discusses 'serious' situation in West Asia
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday night spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian over the phone and discussed the "serious situation" in West Asia.
Modi expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions in the region and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure.
The prime minister told the Iranian President that the safety and security of Indian nationals, along with the need for unhindered transit of goods and energy, remain India's top priorities.
“Had a conversation with Iranian President, Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, to discuss the serious situation in the region. Expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure,” Modi said in a post on X.
The prime minister also reiterated India's commitment to peace and stability and urged dialogue and diplomacy to end the crisis.
The prime minister had spoken to leaders of several West Asian countries in the last 10 days in the wake of the coordinated offensive launched against Iran by the United States and Israel, in which the Islamic country's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed last month.
In retaliation, Iran has fired drones and missiles at Israel and US military installations around the Gulf region, including the global business and aviation hubs of Dubai and Doha.
Modi earlier spoke to the leaders of Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Israel and Qatar, and expressed concern over the attacks on their countries, and condemned the violation of some nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He also discussed the welfare and security of the Indian community residing in those countries.
Around 1 crore Indians live in the Gulf and West Asia. While about 10,000 Indian citizens live, study and work in Iran, more than 40,000 live in Israel.
