NEW DELHI — Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee died on Thursday evening aged 93 years old. He was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for the past nine weeks and his condition worsened on Wednesday.
In a statement announcing his death, AIIMS said that he died at 5:05 pm on Thursday.
The statement said, “Unfortunately, his condition deteriorated over the last 36 hours and was put on life support systems. Despite the best of efforts, we have lost him today.”
Reacting to the news Prime Minister Narendra Modi said:
India grieves the demise of our beloved Atal Ji.
His passing away marks the end of an era. He lived for the nation and served it assiduously for decades. My thoughts are with his family, BJP Karyakartas and millions of admirers in this hour of sadness. Om Shanti.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 16, 2018
It was due to the perseverance and struggles of Atal Ji that the BJP was built brick by brick. He travelled across the length and breadth of India to spread the BJP's message, which led to the BJP becoming a strong force in our national polity and in several states.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 16, 2018
Congress President Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter and said:
Today India lost a great son. Former PM, Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, was loved and respected by millions. My condolences to his family & all his admirers. We will miss him. #AtalBihariVajpayee
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 16, 2018
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called it a great loss for India:
Am deeply saddened. A great loss for India. https://t.co/rPNC7AoPpH
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 16, 2018
Rajnath Singh said India had lost a stalwart:
In Atalji’s demise the nation has lost a stalwart who was known for statesmanship and astute leadership. It is also a huge personal loss to me.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 16, 2018
The Times of India reported that Vajpayee had a kidney tract infection, chest congestion and other age-related ailments and had been put on life support because of his critical condition.
Reports say that the leader has only one functional kidney because of diabetes.
Several leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah, have visited Vajpayee in the hospital.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to arrive in Delhi on Thursday afternoon to visit the former prime minister, reported News18.
Vajpayee was admitted to the hospital on 11 June.
Vajpayee’s first stint as prime minister was in 1996, for 13 days. He then served as prime minister when BJP came to power again in 1998. He held the position till 2004, becoming the first leader outside of the Congress to complete a full term as prime minister.
India conducted five nuclear tests in Pokhran in 1998 and fought the Kargil War with Pakistan under Vajpayee’s leadership, .
Vajpayee also served as the Minister of External Affairs in the Morarji Desai government elected in 1977, right after the emergency.
Born on 25 December, 1924 in Gwalior, Vajpayee’s first brush with politics was during the Quit India Movement in 1942.