Aatal Bihari Vajpayee passes away; PM Modi calls it 'end of an era'

Aatal Bihari Vajpayee death: PM Modi said that it was Atal Ji's exemplary leadership that set the foundations for a strong, prosperous and inclusive India in the 21st century.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee dead: Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter and expressed his grief over the loss of the veteran BJP leader. (PTI)

New Delhi: Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee passed away on Thursday evening following a prolonged illness. He breathed his last at 5:05 pm at All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. He was 93. Taking a note from the extremely sad news, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter and expressed his grief over the loss of the veteran BJP leader and called it as the 'end of the era'. PM wrote, "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." His initial tweet, a deeply emotional one in Hindi, read,  "I'm speechless, I feel a great void".

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

Further appraising the contribution made by the former PM and veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader in shaping the country, PM Modi said that it was Atal Ji's exemplary leadership that set the foundations for a strong, prosperous and inclusive India in the 21st century. "His futuristic policies across various sectors touched the lives of each and every citizen of India," he wrote on the microblogging site.

It was Atal Ji's exemplary leadership that set the foundations for a strong, prosperous and inclusive India in the 21st century. His futuristic policies across various sectors touched the lives of each and every citizen of India.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 16, 2018

ARCHIVE: When Prime Minister #AtalBihariVaajpayee met BJP worker Narendra Modi pic.twitter.com/VgmxgJaKrZ

— ANI (@ANI) August 16, 2018

PM Modi recalled the memories that he had shared with the deceased politician and further wrote on Twitter, "Atal Ji's passing away is a personal and irreplaceable loss for me. I have countless fond memories with him. He was an inspiration to Karyakartas like me. I will particularly remember his sharp intellect and outstanding wit."

Atal Ji's passing away is a personal and irreplaceable loss for me. I have countless fond memories with him. He was an inspiration to Karyakartas like me. I will particularly remember his sharp intellect and outstanding wit.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 16, 2018

PM further wrote, "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."

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

Dr (Prof) Aarti Vij, chairperson media and protocol division of AIIMS said in a press statement while announcing the demise of the leader. "It is with profound grief that we inform about the sad demise of former Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee at 05:05pm on 16.08.2018. Shri Vajpayee was admitted in AIIMS on 11.06.2018 and was stable in the last 9 weeks under the care of a team of AIIMS doctors. Unfortunately, his condition deteriorated over the last 36 hours and he was put on life support systems. Despite the best of efforts, we have lost him today. We join the nation in deeply mourning this great loss," press note read.

Former Prime Minister & Bharat Ratna #AtalBihariVaajpayee passes away in AIIMS. He was 93. pic.twitter.com/r12aIPF5G0

— ANI (@ANI) August 16, 2018

Several political leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah, Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Jitendra Singh, Harsh Vardhan, Suresh Prabhu, Smriti Irani, JP Nadda reached AIIMS to enquire about Vajpayee's health.