Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Aug 25: The funeral ashes of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee were brought to the city here on Saturday August 25 for immersion in Gaya River Uppinangadi, where Netravathi river and Kumaradhara join.

Party leaders, party activists and public paid their tributes at Chittaranjan Circle Udupi.

MP of Udupi-Chikkamagaluru, Shobha Karandlaje said, "Using the ashes of late Vajpayee, BJP is not making this a political issue. We are doing it as per the instruction of BJP hIgh command. The prime minister is doing developmental works in order to strengthen BJP. Vajpayee was well respected even by Congress party leaders. He never envied Sonia Gandhi. When Indira Gandhi did good, he appreciated her heartily and called her ‘Durga’. Rajiv Gandhi himself made arrangements for Vajpayee to go to America to attending a camp. He was a leader who lived beyond party differences. If anybody talks about him negatively, it shows their pettiness.

"Atal Bihari Vajpayee came to Udupi many times. He used to remember V S Acharya and senior BJP leader Somashekhar Bhat. He loved Udupi and used to refer to the Udupi CMC in other states as a model. Now he is no more, only his memories are with us. He had commissioned Sarva Shikshana for village students, Pradhan Manthri Garama Sadak project, Kisan Credit Card, Pokran nuclear test, four lane national highway. He is the man who strengthened the relationship between neighbouring countries.

"Today we welcome his ashes to keeping his memory alive here in Udupi.

"He has spent a long time in politics. BJP decided to immerse his ashes in eight holy rivers in Karnataka. May his soul get salvation"

The ashes were carried out in a decorated vehicle in procession.

Mattaru Ratnakar Hegde, president, district BJP Udupi, Somashekhar Bhat, Raghupati Bhat, MLA Udupi, Sunil Kumar, MLA Karkala, Lalaji R Mendon, MLA Kaup, Uday Kumar Shetty, in charge of Mangaluru division, Shyamala Kundar and other party workers paid tribute to Vajpayee.