The former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee speaking to Vishwesha Tirtha Swami at Sri Krishna Mutt/Temple when he came to inaugurate the renovated Rajangana Hall in Udupi on January 18, 2001. more-in Many eminent persons here on Thursday mourned the death of the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Many recalled the fact that Vajpayee as Prime Minister had visited Udupi and inaugurated the renovated Rajangana Hall here on January 18, 2001. Besides this visit, Vajpayee had also visited the temple-town as senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party during other occasions. Minister for Women and Child Welfare Jaimala, who is also Udupi district in-charge, said that the country had lost a pole star in the death of Vajpayee. He had served the country for over four decades as Leader of the Opposition, Foreign Minister and as Prime Minister. He had made a place in the hearts of the people through the various development programmes launched during his tenure as Prime Minister, she said. In his message, Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of Pejawar Mutt recalled that Vajpayee as Prime Minister had inaugurated the renovated Rajangana Hall here during his fourth Paryaya (2000-02). [Incidentally, that was his last visit to Udupi as Prime Minister]. Vajpayee was a popular leader, an able administrator and an outstanding orator. He had rendered great service to the nation. Even leaders of other parties used to respect Vajpayee. It was a great loss for the country, he said. Vidyadheesha Tirtha Swami of Paryaya Palimar Mutt said that Vajpayee was known as Ajathashatru (man without enemies). He had still not forgotten Vajpayee’s visit to Udupi to inaugurate the renovated Rajangana in 2001. He was a simple person and a people’s leader, he said. Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi Catholic Diocese, said that Vajpayee was a poet at heart and a model to all politicians. He was a non-corrupt person who did not compromise on his principles. He was both an ideal politician and parliamentarian who treated people of all faiths equally, he said. Shobha Karandlaje, Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP, said that it was under Vajpayee as Prime Minister that the country had successfully repulsed intrusion by Pakistan in Kargil. He was responsible for the nuclear tests at Pokhran. He had successfully steered the National Democratic Alliance government for seven years, she said.

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