Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s connection to Bengaluru and Karnataka goes back to the days of Emergency. Vajpayee, a parliamentary committee member, had come to Bengaluru in June 1975 for an official meeting. It was here he was arrested along with LK Advani and other political leaders. However, he was shifted out of Bengaluru later. But he used to recall his arrest in the city.

Later, he was a frequent visitor to Karnataka. The coastal region was his favourite. BJP State leaders late VS Acharya and late BB Shivappa would accompany him during the tours. As Prime Minister, Vajpayee had laid the foundation stone for many projects of importance such as ITPL, Bengaluru Metro and the suspension bridge at KR Puram. While dedicating International Tech Park Ltd (ITPL) building at Whitefield, he said,“IT is not Information Technology, but it is India Tomorrow. Let hundred Bangalores Bloom!”

Again, while dedicating the suspension bridge at KR Puram, he said, “We have built bridges and roads in our Golden Quadrilateral project to unite all regions. We have established telephone networks even in the remotest of villages to unite all hearts. We are now planning to inter-link rivers not only to remove the thirst, but also to unite all the people of India.”

CM’s condolence

Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, in his condolence message said, “He was a great orator and parliamentarian. His death has created a vacuum in the political landscape of the country.”

Karnataka Opposition leader and BJP State president BS Yedurappa said, “Still the words of Vajpayee at Mumbai plenary session of BJP in 1980 when BJP got only two seats in the Lok Sabha ‘ Andhera chatega, suraj niklega, kamal khilega ’ (darkness goes, sun rises and lotus blooms) keeps reminding me of his vision and optimism in politics.”

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