Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Aug 17: Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former Prime Minister, had visited the undivided district of Dakshina Kannada, at least 20 times including the period during which he was the Prime Minister of the country. People used to gather in large numbers for the public meeting where Vajpayee used to speak just to hear his poetical Hindi speech.

Atalji's first visit to the district of DK was in 1957. He had come to campaign for the then Jan Sangh. He was just 32 years old at that time. The first meeting was held in the Theosophical Society office at Kodialbail. The last visit of Atal was in the year 2001. He had visited the district on January 18, 2001, to inaugurate the new auditorium of Sri Krishna Math.

Cordial relation with B Janardhan Poojary

B Janardhan Poojary is one of the few politicians from the region, who had interacted with Atal Bihari Vajpayee very closely. The close aides of Poojary say that there was a very warm and cordial relation between the two which surpassed their different party affiliations. Though they used to have vociferous arguments inside the parliament, Vajpayee always used to hug Poojary once they were out of the Parliament hall and inquire about his well being.

Then chaperone is MLA of Udupi now

When Vajpayee arrived in Udupi in 2001, some activists of the BJP were nominated as chaperones to take care of his needs during his stay at the tourist bungalow. One of them is the present MLA Raghupati Bhat. He recalls that Vajpayee used to go through the files and also read books till late into the night.

Maruti 800 car used for Atalji's travel still kept as the memento

Vajpayee had his food twice in the house of late Dr V S Acharya when the former visited Udupi. Dr V S Acharya had driven Vajpayee to Goa himself in the Maruti 800 car. For the same reason, children of Dr Acharya have not sold the car and have preserved it as Vajpayee had used the same for his travel.

Visited Puttur thrice

Vajpayee had visited Puttur thrice in connection with the campaign and organization of the BJP. He had numerous followers in Sullia and Puttur, which are known to be the stronghold of BJP and Sangh Parivar right from those days. Rama Bhat was his confidante.

When Vajpayee paid a visit to Puttur in 1993, he was felicitated and an amount of Rs one lac was given to him as a donation. However, Vajpayee had returned that money and asked the organizers to use the same for the election campaigning at Puttur. This information was given by Chandrashekar and Dr M K Prasad.

Dr Jagadish Shettigar, economic and defence advisor to Atal

"Years before I went to Vajpayee's home in Delhi to offer my good wishes on his birthday. Only a few people were being allowed as Vajpayee was not well. His well-wishers used to touch his hand and show their respect. However, when I went inside, Vajpayee himself placed his hand over mine and smiled. I was overwhelmed with emotion on his memory and love," said Dr Jagadish Shettigar, who was the economic and defence advisor to Vajpayee from 1999 to 2004 and who had more than 30 years of friendship with the former PM.

Dr Shettigar further said, "Vajpayee had his own independent views when it came to economy and defence. During globalization, though he faced stiff opposition, he had asked me to go ahead with my decision. Though I was the defence advisor, he had kept the Pokhran test secret from me. He was clever and had the guts to handle any situation."

Popular man

"Vajpayee was a very popular person cutting across party lines. He was an able administrator. The whole nation is mourning his death and we also express our condolences. The people of India will never forget the service he provided to the country when he was the Prime Minister," said Pejawar Swamiji in Udupi.

"Vajpayee is one of the rarest politicians the nation has seen. He was a model for all the other politicians and was a poet in his heart. He was committed to his principles from birth till death. He never allowed corruption to touch him. He toured all along the country and responded to the difficulties of people. He had equal respect to all the religions, " said, Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi

"Vajpayee was one of the greatest sons of the soil Indian has seen. For him India was his home and Indians were his family. He had the zeal to see the country progress. He was enemy of none. He was simple and lovable. He had the ability to take tough decisions at crucial times. I wish leaders like him be born again in this country,” said Dr Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala.