‘The Gentle Giant, will be missed by one and all,’ says President His passing away marks the end of an era: Modi Morung Express News Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee died on Thursday after battling prolonged illness at AIIMS, New Delhi. He was 93. “It is with profound grief that we inform about the said demise of the Former Prime Minister of India Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee at 05:05pm on 16.08.1,” said a statement from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Thursday. Vajpayee, a diabetic patient, is undergoing treatment at AIIMS since June 11. He was admitted to the hospital for what doctors described as a routine check-up, IANS news agency reported. A statement from the hospital on August 15 informed that there was no improvement in his condition since Wednesday evening when his health deteriorated. Vajpayee's mortal remains will be taken to his Krishna Menon Marg home, according to media reports. The former Prime Minister, whose birthday on December 25 is celebrated as Good Governance Day, was honoured with the Bharat Ratna in 2014 at his home. He was Prime Minister for 13 days in mid-1996 when he was forced to resign ahead of the confidence vote for which he did not have the numbers. Vajpayee again became the Prime Minister in March 1998 but his government fell 13 months later on the floor of the Lok Sabha losing by one vote in the confidence motion after AIADMK headed by the late J.Jayalalithaa withdrew support to the BJP, the IANS informed. The BJP government headed by Vajpayee returned to power in 1999 and completed its full term till 2014. President, PM mourn Vajpayee’s demise Meanwhile, President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have expressed their sadness over the demise of Prime Minister and offered glowing tribute to the departed leader. ‘Extremely sad to hear of the passing of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, our former Prime Minister and a true Indian statesman,’ the President said in a message on his official twitter handle. “His leadership, foresight, maturity and eloquence put him in a league of his own. Atalji, the Gentle Giant, will be missed by one and all,” he added. Stating that “India grieves the demise of our beloved Atal Ji,” the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a tweet said, “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...” he added.
