The monsoon session of the third session of Himachal Pradesh Assembly commenced on Thursday with obituary references on the demise of former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratan late Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The Assembly also paid obituary references to Dile Ram Shabab two times Congress Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), former Himachal Governor Urmila Singh, veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar (95) who passed away on Thursday.

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The loss of life and property owing to monsoons in Kerala and Himachal was also condoled during the session.

The house was later adjourned for the day after the obituary reverences. Chief Minister, Jai Ram Thakur moved the obituary motion and was later joined by the members of the house of both ruling and the opposition parties, to pay tribute to Vajpayee and remembering his contribution to the country as well as Himachal.

He described him as a statesman and one of the tallest leaders of India said the demise of Vajpayee has not only created a vacuum in the country, but the entire world.

Thakur said Vajpayee was a multifaceted personality, he is remembered as mass leader and had also won admiration cutting across political parties in the country.

He said that there is lot to learn from the life of Vajpayee who was never perturbed even during the dire situation and is always inspiring for the new generation of politicians.

“Vajpayee had always considered Himachal to be his second home. His affinity was not restricted to the speeches wherein he mentioned about the state, but also reflected in his actions. He visited Himachal a number of times and had also contributed in the progress of the hill state. Rohtang tunnel is his greatest gift to the state. He understood and was sensitive to the difficulties that were being faced by people of Lahaul and Spiti district. The vacuum being felt by the state cannot be filled,” he said.

He said the state government wants to name the Rohtang Tunnel and Kol Dam in his name and is also working out various other things to be done to always remember him and his contribution for the generations to come. He also expressed his condolences over the demise of Dile Ram Shabab, Kuldip Nayar.

Leader of Opposition, Mukesh Agnihotri while paying tributes said that Vajpayee used to work rising above party lines and took everyone along.

He used to respect everyone and everyone respected him, he said, adding that Vijpayee had no political enemies and had earned the name of Ajatshatru (one who has no enemies).

He said that Vajpayee had brought on record the work of the previous Congress government and had stated that as the successive governments work in continuity, his government will carry forward what the previous government had done.

Mukesh Agnihotri also mourned the demise of former Himachal Governor Urmila Singh.

Expressing concern over the damage caused in Kerala owing to the recent floods, he said that the Congress MLAs will donate their one month’s salary to the flood victims.

Parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Bhardwaj said, “Vajpayee had emerged as a world leader due to his thought and functioning and the entire world is shocked by his demise. The American News paper Washington Post had Pakistan news paper Dawn had expressed their condolences in their articles.”

Others members who remembered Vajpayee include Health Minister Vipin Singh Parmar, Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu (Congress MLA), Forest Minister Gobind Singh Thakur, Rakesh Singha (CPI(M) MLA), Narender Bragta (BJP MLA), Thakur Sunder Singh (Congress MLA) and Ramesh Dhawala (BJP MLA).