J&K Governor, state leaders condole Vajpayee's demise

Mainstream leaders in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday condoled the demise of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee death in Delhi.

Governor N.N. Vohra said: "Saddened over the demise of a visionary leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji. Pray for the peace of the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family members."

Vajpayee passed away earlier in the day in All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. He was 93.

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted: "Vajpayee sahib is no more and I feel a personal sense of loss. Thank you sir for the opportunities, for the trust you reposed in me, for the opportunities to travel with you and to learn from you. You will be greatly missed."

 

Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti tweeted: "His conviction, commitment and courage was phenomenal. He extended the hand of friend to Pakistan. He had to face the betrayal in the shape of Kargil incursions by Pakistan but even then he tried to rise above everything else to sort out the problems faced by us in Jammu and Kashmir."

State Congress President G.A. Mir said: "Politics apart, his approach to problems was that of a statesman. His policy regarding J&K was not put to practice by those who claim to represent his dream. He was a great parliamentarian."

Senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta said: "He entered J&K with Syama Prasad Mookerjee in 1953. He was a statesman, thinker, poet and writer who will always be missed."

Former Minister and Peoples Democratic Party leader Naeem Akhtar said" "To resolve the Kashmir issue through a humanitarian approach, Atal ji firmly believed that dialogue and deliberation is the only way out of the situation in Kashmir."

CPI-M MLA Yusuf Tarigami said: "During his prime ministership, there was a ray of hope for the otherwise helpless situation here. His approach opened roads and minds in Kashmir."

Former Lok Sabha member and Congress leader Tariq Hameed Kara said: "For the people of Kashmir, Atal ji's passing away is a personal loss."

--IANS

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