Azam Khan Attacks BJP on Vajpayee’s ‘Asthi Kalash Yatra’, Says ‘Would Die Today, If Granted So Much Respect After Death’
Commenting on Vajpayee’s Asthi Kalash Yatra, Khan said that if he gets to know that after death so much respect will be accorded to him then he would like to die immediately.
Lucknow, August 26: Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan on Sunday veiled an attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over Asthi Kalash Yatra of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and said he would die today if he gets to know he will be accorded so much respect after his death. Commenting on Vajpayee’s Asthi Kalash Yatra, Khan said that if he gets to know that after death so much respect will be accorded to him then he would like to die immediately. “If I somehow get to know that after death so much respect will be accorded to me then I would like to die today itself,” Khan was quoted by ANI.
The Asthi Kalash Yatras are being organised by all state units of the BJP across the country. Reports inform that the BJP central leadership plans to immerse the ashes in about 100 major rivers across the country. The ashes of former PM were immersed in the Ganga river in Varanasi on Saturday as thousands converged to pay their last respects to the late BJP stalwart.
The move has drawn criticism from the opposition Congress which accused BJP of trying to make political gains out of Vajpayee's demise. On August 19, a similar procession was taken out in Haridwar. Top brass leaders of the BJP, including BJP President Amit Shah, Union minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Uttarakhand counterpart Trivendra Singh were present to bid farewell to the departed leader. Later, the ashes were immersed in the Ganga river by Vajpayee’s family members and BJP leaders.
Vajpayee breathed his last on August 16 at the age of 93 after a prolonged illness at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi. The mortal remains of the former Prime Minister were consigned to the flames at the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal on the banks of the Yamuna in Delhi the next day.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 26, 2018 12:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).