Rich tributes were today paid to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee here and his ashes were immersed in the Ganga in the presence of senior BJP leaders and a large number of party workers and supporters.
The 'asthi kalash yatra' (procession with the urn containing the ashes) began at Sanskiritik Vidyapeeth at Raja Bazar area and culminated at Bhadra ghat where the urn containing the ashes was immersed in the river, party sources said.
Prominent among those who paid tributes to the late BJP patriarch and were present during the immersion of ashes included the Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, state BJP president Nityanand Rai, Union Minister Ram Kripal Yadav, state Road Construction Minister Nand Kishore Yadav, Patna Mayor Sita Sahu, legislators Nitin Navin, Sanjeev Chaurasia, Arun Sina and hundreds of party workers.
Earlier, the people welcomed with flowers the 'asthi kalash yatra', which was accompanied by a carcade and large number of supporters on motorcycles all along the route charted for it
Speaking on the occasion, Sushil Modi said that Vajpayee was a man of firm determination and action which was evident from the nuclear test in 1998 despite knowing well the consequences he would have to face in its aftermath. Economic sanctions were imposed on the country but he remained firm and conducted yet another test.
Earlier, Bihar BJP president Nityanand Rai brought the urn containing the ashes to Patna from New Delhi on August 22.
The urn was taken taken to the party's state headquarters in an open vehicle which carried a life-size portrait of Vajpayee.
Immersion of the ashes in prominent rivers of the state took place over a period of three days in the state during which 'asthi kalash yatras' were taken out.
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