"I feel privileged to have known him and am honoured to have counted him as a friend," the spiritual leader said
The barfi were delivered to Atalji in Delhi via a special flight
During his tenure, Atal Bihari Vajpayee continued undeterred on the path of reforms
It is fair to say that both Vajpayee and Modi govts did less than what they could have; French President Emmanuel Macron has done effectively more in just 15 months, writes T N Ninan
Pitted against Vajpayee in 2004 was Samajwadi Party candidate and an established city-based gynaecologist Dr Madhu Gupta
Advani's words proved to be correct as Vajpayee first served as prime minister for a period of 13 days in 1996
The tests left the Western world shocked and surprised
US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said the American people stand with the people of India "as we mourn Prime Minister Vajpayee's passing"
The funeral procession will go through Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Delhi Gate, Netaji Subhash Marg, Nishadraj Marg and Shanti van before reaching Smriti Sthal
Vajpayee later expressed surprise that such delicious South Indian food was available in the heart of New Delhi about which "he was not aware"
The delegation will return the same day after attending the funeral, the report said
Vajpayee's cortege made its way through the city to reach the BJP headquarters Friday morning, where leaders gathered in large numbers to pay homage to the departed leader
Sri Lanka is sending Minister of Highways and Higher Education Lakshman Kiriella to represent the country at Vajpayee's funeral in New Delhi
Vajpayee's government ushered in the new policy that did away with the fixed licence fees
Vajpayyee, who passed away at the AIIMS on Thursday evening at the age of 93, will be cremated at the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal near Rajghat in the national capital at 4 pm
Vajpayee, the 10th prime minister of India who passed away on Thursday evening, will be cremated on Friday with full state honour
Pompeo said Indians will reflect on Vajpayee's many contributions that led to India's rise as a global and economic power
Vajpayee died at the AIIMS hospital on Thursday at the age of 93, following a prolonged illness
The announcement came after a half-day holiday was declared for all central government departments on Friday
Vajpayee, who led the National Democratic Alliance government from 1998 to 2004, was the first-ever member of the BJP to become India's Prime Minister