Rajnath Singh draws parallel between Mahatma Gandhi and Vajpayee

New Delhi, Aug 3 Union Minister Rajnath Singh today drew parallel between Mahatma Gandhi and ex-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, saying the latter is one such political personality in independent India who would be respected by public for many generations to come like the Father of the Nation.

"The kind of respect Mahatma Gandhi received among people in India during pre and also post-independence era...if you look at politics of independent India, Vajpayee has the personality like Mahatma Gandhi, he will be respected for several forthcoming generations," the Union Home Minister said.

Singh made the remark in a video message to event in which biography of the former Prime Minister 'Haar Nahi Manoonga - Ek Atal Jeevan Gatha' was released here.

The event was attended by Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, former Union Ministers Najma Heptulla and Jaya Jaitley, senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai, besides author-scribe Vijay Trivedi.

In his message sent before he left for Pakistan to attend SAARC Interior/Home Ministers' meet, Singh lauded Vajpayee for playing a crucial role in ensuring India was not affected due to economic crisis during his tenure as the Prime Minister and conducting nuclear test in Pokhran "that gave world a sense of India's growing strength".

Gadkari showered praises on Vajpayee for leading simple life "sans ego" and sacrificing his life for building the BJP.

During her address, Jaitley threw light over the rapport between Vajpayee and Defence Minister in his cabinet George Fernandes, who had to resign in connection with alleged bribery scandal, saying the duo were "saints and smart" politicians. "They share deep and cordial rapport," she said.

Heptulla praised Vajpayee for his patience as a political leader, his oratory skill and for being a Prime Minister with whom it was "easy to share a joke". "I have seen many opposition leaders. But none was like him," she said.

PTI