KATHMANDU, Aug 17: Representing the Government and people of Nepal, foreign minister, Pradeep Kumar Gyawali is leaving for New Delhi to mourn the death of late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former prime minister of India.
Vajpayee passed away at the age of 93 yesterday. He was admitted at Delhi based-All India Institute of Medical Sciences with multiple health issues from nine weeks. He was kept in ventilator from Wednesday night and was under close observation.
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Under the premiership of Vajpayee, India successfully conducted first among the five nuclear tests in Pokhran, showcasing India's might before the entire world. Vajpayee, who had been ailing for long, retreated from active public life over the last decade following the deterioration of his health and remained restricted to his residence.
Born in 1924 in Gwalior, Vajpayee became the first non-Indian National Congress PM to serve a full five-year term. He was first exposed to the political sphere during the Quit India movement in 1942. Within five years since then, he became a full-time RSS Pracharak and, due to his oratory skills, he soon became the face of the Jana Sangh (which is today known as the BJP).
A voracious reader, Vajpayee was widely known and respected for his love for poetry and as an eloquent speaker. He was conferred Padma Vibhushan in 1992 in recognition of his services to the nation. He was subsequently awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, in 2015.
