Documentary on Vajpayee's life screened in HP Assembly

The Himachal Assembly paid tributes today to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the first day of the Monsoon Session where a documentary on his life was screened.

The House also passed a condolence resolution for the BJP stalwart who died on August 16 at the age of 93.

It was later adjourned for the day.

Earlier, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, Leader of Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri, Speaker Rajiv Bindal, state Congress chief Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, CPM MLA Rakesh Singh and other members of the Assembly spoke on the condolence resolution.

Thakur presented the resolution to condole the demise of Vajpayee, former member of the state assembly Dile Ram Shabab, former Himachal Governor Urmila Singh and veteran journalist Kuldeep Nayyar. Deaths in Kerala and Himachal floods were also condoled.

A two-minute silence was observed in the House.

Recalling Vajpayee's contribution for the development of Himachal, Jai Ram Thakur informed that a proposal to name Rohtang tunnel after the former prime minister was already sent to the Centre.

Agnihotri said, "Contrary to current period, Vajpayee used to recognise the work done during 50 years of the Congress rule before he became the prime minister. The present generation should learn from him".

State Congress chief Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said all the Congress legislators have decided to give one month salary to help Kerala flood victims.

BJP leaders Suresh Bharadwaj, Vipin Singh Parmar, Govind Singh Thakur, Ramesh Dhawala, Narender Bragta and Congress MLA Sunder Singh Thakur also spoke in the House.