“2024 will settle Badal’s fate”
Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa spoke about a gamut of issues including the future of the party he once belonged to - the Shiromani Akali Dal.
The former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday described the former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee as “the tallest Indian he has worked with and one of the greatest statesmen on the world stage.
India will forever remember Vajpayee as a symbol of peace, communal harmony and of India’s rich diversity. He represented the spirit of India like very few others have done. India today has lost a sage-statesman and perhaps her most glorious yet humblest son. It will take a long, long while to fill the void created by this loss will be a long time, Badal said.
READ | Atal Bihari Vajpayee no more, confirms AIIMS | Former Prime Minister was 93
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“Here was a hero who even his opponents found hard not to like and admire. As an ambassador of his country, Vajpayee quickly won over even the staunchest of our enemies. Few will ever display the courage to pursue peace like Vajpayee did. His bus journey to Lahore symbolized that courage as did his approach to the Kashmir issue,” the Shiromani Akali Dal leader said.
Recalling his long association with the former Prime Minister, Badal said that he was deeply impressed by the sobriety, patience and compassion which Mr Vajpayee brought to bear on his approach to solve Shiromani Akali Daling the vexed problems facing the country.
He had the capacity to overcome the seemingly impossible problems and resolve the insurmountable conflicts with his disarming simplicity, sympathy and humanitarian embrace. He taught us how relevant even in politics are the sacred human sentiments such as love, understanding, forberance and tireless patience.
“He has left a deep and indelible print on the psyche of our nation and its people”.
Paying glowing tributes to the late Prime Minister, Badal said that with the passing away of Vajpayee, “an era comes to a close, an era in India’s national politics as well as in our social and national identity in which unlimited colours combined to make an impressive confluence,” Badal said.
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