AP legislature pays tribute to Vajpayee

Glowing tributes were paid to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee by the Andhra Pradesh legislature on the first day of its monsoon session Thursday.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Legislative Affairs Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu moved condolence motions in the assembly and the council respectively.

Naidu noted Vajpayee had a lot of admiration for Telugu Desam Party founder N T Rama Rao and loved Andhra Pradesh and the Telugu people.

Vajpayee occupied the Prime Ministers post twice with the support of Telugu people... In Vajpayees death, Bharat Mata lost a dear son and a great statesman, the Chief Minister said.

Ministers and several legislators also spoke, hailing Vajpayee, who died on August 16 after a prolonged illness.

The two Houses adopted the condolence motions unanimously.

The Assembly, in an other motion, paid homage to former minister and actor Nandamuri Harikrishna, son of Rama Rao, who died in a road accident on August 29.