Page 237 - Human Interest
United in grief, neighbours offer condolences on Vajpayee's demise
Representatives of India's neighbouring countries on Friday offered their condolences to the Indian government on the demise of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.During their one-on-one meeting with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj following the last rites of Vajpayee, the leaders expressed their grief over the death of the veteran leader.A string of foreign dignitaries including King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, Sri Lanka's acting Foreign Minister Lakshman Kiriella and former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai were in New Delhi to attend the last rites of Vajpayee on Friday.During his meeting with Swaraj, Karzai offered condolences on the demise of Vajpayee and had a discourse on Vajpayee's role in 'consolidating democracy in Afghanistan'.Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmud Ali recalled Vajpayee's contribution in consolidating India-Bangladesh friendship. Vajpayee was conferred with the ...
Nepal Minister meets Sushma Swaraj, offers condolences on Vajpayee's death
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday met Nepal Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali who conveyed condolences from his country's leadership over the passing away of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
4,000 security personnel deployed for Vajpayee's final journey
Over 4,000 police and paramilitary personnel stood guard as the funeral procession of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee started from the BJP headquarters for Rashtriya Smriti Sthal here today, a senior police officer said. All the senior officers were personally monitoring the situation, including Delhi Police commissioner Amulya Patnaik who was present at Rashtriya Smriti Sthal, where Vajpayee's mortal remains were consigned to flames. Police said a security plan was devised together by the northern and southern ranges. Thirty companies comprising close to 2,500 police and paramilitary personnel, 600 policemen from the security wing and 800 traffic policemen had been deployed to ensure the procession went off without any glitches. Thirty Parakram vans manned by NSG-trained drivers and commandos, which are mandated for anti-terror and other operations warranting armed response, were also deployed for the event. Rajesh Khurana, Joint Commissioner of Police (Central) range, ...
Vajpayee's funeral: Some climbed trees, some left work to catch his glimpse
Electrician Kundan Kumar Jha skipped work and travelled from Faridabad today to catch a glimpse of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the BJP headquarters, only because he loved his speeches and personality. Such was the magnetic appeal of Vajpayee's persona that old-timers and youngsters travelled in scorching heat, some from far-off places to pay their last respects. Jha, in his mid-30s, who originally hails from Bihar, said, he was an admirer of his personality back home only, but the admiration grew after he moved to Delhi. "I work as an electrician with a private company in Faridabad. But, I decided to skip work today, as I had to be here. I just had to pay my respect, so I came. Also, I liked his speeches and personality. Even in his sarcastic remarks, he was very dignified," he told PTI. While Jha endeavoured to catch a glimpse of the leader from a footpath beside the Deendayal Upadhyaya Marg, a few visitors perched on branches of trees opposite the party office to ..
Vajpayee was genuine friend, says Israel
Condoling the death of former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Israel on Friday said that it will always remember him as a genuine friend.
I'm not out there to prove anything, asserts Sushil
Celebrated Indian wrestler Sushil Kumar, whose defeat in a tune-up event raised doubts about his form ahead of the Asian Games, today asserted that he is "far from finished" and is not out there to prove anything. India's only double Olympic medallist lost his first bout in four years, at the Tbilisi Grannd Prix in Georgia last month. Asked about the defeat and he dismissed it nonchalantly. "So what. There will be defeats and victories in sportsman's life. Real athlete is the one who stands up after defeat, prepares harder and come back. Real athlete is one who takes the mat after winning also. I am trying to do the same," Sushil told PTI in an exclusive chat after a training session. "I have prepared well for the Asian Games but I am not out there to prove anything. Proving yourself is not sportsmanship," Sushil, who will compete in the 74kg category in Jakarta, said. Unnamed Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) officials recently told the media that they were concerned about Sushil's
Going to Pakistan as goodwill ambassador: Sidhu
Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu, who on Friday left India to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Pakistan's Prime Minister designate Imran Khan, said he was going to the other side of the border as a "goodwill ambassador." The swearing in ceremony of Khan is scheduled at the President's House in Islamabad tomorrow."These moments of democratic change in Pakistan are very important. I feel lucky that Imran Khan, being a friend, invited me. It is an honour for me. I am going to Pakistan as a goodwill ambassador. I am going there with the hope that relations between our two nations will improve," Sidhu told media at the Attari-Wagah border. Sidhu is one of the former cricketers who has received an invite for attending the swearing-in ceremony of Khan.During a press conference on August 2, Sidhu highlighted that the invitation extended to him was personal.
Vajpayee was truly dedicated politician: Dalai Lama
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has said that former Prime Minister A. B. Vajpayee was a truly dedicated politician and in his death India had lost an eminent national leader.
Belgium mission keeps flag at half mast in Vajpayee's honour
The Belgium Embassy here kept its flag at half mast on Friday in the honour of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who passed away on Thursday.
Have lost a brother, celebrated festivals with Atalji:Ex-Aligarh MP Sheela Gautam
For 86-year-old former parliamentarian Sheela Gautam, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was like an elder brother, but as fate would have it, she came all the way from Aligarh today to bid a tearful farewell to him. "We played Holi together and celebrated Raksha Bandhan and I used to tie him 'rakhi'. It is a personal loss for me," Gautam said. She was among a galaxy of personalties and public figures who converged at the BJP headquarters here to pay homage to the former prime minister, whose mortal remains were kept there before the cremation. The former Aligarh MP, who came in a wheelchair at the sprawling building complex, told PTI, "The country has lost a stalwart politician, a statesman, and one of the finest prime ministers India had, but I have lost a brother." Vajpayee, 93, passed away at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here last evening after prolonged illness. A sea of people flooded the streets in front of the BJP headquarters, where his body was kept from morning ...
Sidhu arrives in Pak to attend Khan's oath taking ceremony
Indian cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu today arrived here to attend the swearing-in ceremony of his friend Imran Khan as Pakistan prime minister. Wearing a blue suit and a pink turban, Sidhu arrived Lahore via the Wagah border from where he will travel to Islamabad to attend Khan's oath-taking ceremony scheduled for tomorrow. Sidhu used his usual poetic expression while interacting with reporters. Welcoming the "change" in Pakistan's democracy with the election of Khan as prime minister, he said Khan should come forward in peace initiative between the two neighbours. He said he has brought "a message of love" to Pakistan as a goodwill ambassador of India. I have come here not as a politician but as a friend. I have come here to take part in the happiness of my friend (Imran), he said, adding sportsmen and artistes help bringing the people of two sides closer. Hindustan jeevay, Pakistan jeevay, he chanted while reading a verse. Sidhu said former Indian prime minister ...
'The Royals' cancelled after four seasons
E! network has cancelled the one-hour drama series "The Royals" after four seasons.
Sir, you will be missed: SPG
New Delhi [India], Aug 17 (ANI): It was a painful moment for the Special Protection Group (SPG) personnel to bid goodbye to the man whom they have been shielding all these 14 years. The body guards of Vajpayee on Friday stood in queue, away from cameras and crowd, and took turns to silently offer their homage to the departed leader. This was the last time they were seeing him.The loss of the great man, whom they shadowed all along, suddenly dawned on them. With Vajpayee's demise, these men would now be positioned to protect some other VIP. But for them, the memories of Vajpayee would be hard to erase. The man who was the centre of their attention all these years and for whom they would have sacrificed their own life, is gone."It is very shocking for us. We have been deployed here for many years for his security. He was a tall leader. We will miss him," said an SPG officer. Shying away from media, he along with his colleagues took turns to quietly offer floral tributes to Vajpayee ...
Sea of mourners join Vajpayee's funeral procession
A sea of people today joined the funeral procession of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi walking behind the gun carriage carrying the mortal remains. BJP chief Amit Shah, several union ministers and chief ministers of several states including Vijay Rupani, Shivraj Chouhan, Yogi Adityanath and Devendra Fadnavis were among those who walked sombrely behind the carriage as it slowly made its way to the Rashtriya Smirti Sthal where the last rites would be performed. Vajpayee, 93, passed away at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here last evening after a prolonged illness. Amid sultry weather conditions, thousands of people walked along the over seven km-long route with some showering petals at the carriage. Heavy security was deployed along the route of the procession. The crowd was so massive that the people spilled over barricades and jostled to get a glimpse of the former prime minister. During the procession, people chanted .
TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee injured in road accident
Senior Trinamool Congress leader and Member of Parliament Kalyan Banerjee today sustained injuries when a taxi rammed into his car in south Kolkata, a police officer said. The TMC MP had to be hospitalised as he suffered minor injuries in the mishap and complained of chest pain, he said. "The incident happened around 8am at the juncture of Sarat Chandra Bose Road and Southern Avenue, when the speeding yellow taxi, ignoring all signals, crashed into Banerjee's car, causing heavy damage to it," the officer said, adding that the "errant driver" has been arrested.
Perrie Edwards undergoes throat surgery
Singer Perrie Edwards has undergone a throat surgery after years of dealing with problems with her oesophagus.
Dalai Lama condoles Vajpayee's demise, says India lost 'eminent national leader'
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has extended his condolences over the sad demise of India's former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and said the country has lost an "eminent national leader". "I feel privileged to have known him and am honoured to have counted him as a friend," the Dalai Lama said in a letter he wrote to the poet-politician's foster daughter Namita Bhattacharya yesterday, shortly after the doctors announced that Vajpayee had passed away. "We met regularly during the course of his career and I continued to visit him at (his) home after he retired. Shri Vajpayee was a truly dedicated politician. With his passing away, India has lost an eminent national leader. His eloquent support of the Tibetan people began in the late 1950s. Since then, he regularly took Indian governments to task in Parliament, prompting them to take a stronger stand on Tibet," the exiled spiritual leader said. He also offered his condolences to Vajpayee's relatives, friends and ...
Flags in Mauritius at half mast in Vajpayee's honour
In an unprecedented gesture, the government of Mauritius will fly both the Mauritian and Indian national flags at half mast on Friday in honour of former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Bhutan King, British HC pay homage to Vajpayee
Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk and British High Commissioner to India Dominic Asquith on Friday paid their homage to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the BJP office here.
Vajpayee's last journey begins; thousands throng to pay respects
Thousands of people today joined the funeral procession of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with Prime Minister Narendra Modi walking behind the cortege. BJP chief Amit Shah, several union ministers and party leaders also walked sombrely behind the cortege as it made its way to the Rashtriya Smirti Sthal where the last rites would be performed. Vajpayee, 93, passed away at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here last evening after a prolonged illness. A huge crowd of people showered petals at the funeral procession and jostled to get a glimpse of the former prime minister.