Northeast joins nation in mourning ex-PM’s demise

Guwahati (Assam), Aug 17, 2018:

Along with the rest of the country, a pall of gloom descended over the North-eastern States too as news begin to spread about the demise of their beloved Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Thursday evening.

People glued on to their TV sets to get live updates throughout the evening, while some cried in sorrow. A group of people at a village in Assam’s Nagaon district decided to fast for the next 10 days and perform shraddh on the 11^th day.

And the fact that Vajpayee’s appeal transcended political, regional or communal divides is borne out by the fact that a Muslim man is also partaking in the fast that began on Thursday evening.

People from all walks of life in the Northeast mourned the demise of the statesman, visionary and philosopher politician. Political and non-political organisations alike too condoled his death. Condolence meetings were also organised at several places.

And they have reasons to feel sad considering the fact that several key projects of the region are Vajpayee’s legacies, including the ambitious East-West corridor that opened up the region for the first time to rest of India with a four-lane road, besides the Trans Asian Highway.

Meanwhile, as a mark to the departed soul, the North-eastern States declared a State holiday on Friday, while a few even announcing seven-day mourning. Many trade bodies too announced closure of all shops and business establishments during the day.

With offices and educational institutions remained close, streets at many places wore a deserted look throughout the day. And many took the opportunity to remain indoors to watch live on TV the stalwart’s final journey.