A B Vajpayee dead at 93; PM Narendra Modi takes to Twitter, calls it 'end of an era'

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee died today after months of prolonged illness. Vajpayee breathed his last at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi. He was 93.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sadness and termed it as the 'end of an era'.

"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," tweeted PM Modi.

Modi said that the former PM's leadership had set the foundations for a strong, prosperous and inclusive India.

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," said Modi in another tweet.

PM Modi also said that Vajpayee's demise is a personal loss for him.

"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," he said.

PM also credited Vajpayee for building a stronger BJP.

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"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," said PM Modi.