NEW DELHI, Aug 17 - Led by Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi, most of the senior leaders of the State NDA, including Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, were present at the cremation of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
The Asom Ghana Parishad (AGP) was led by its president and State minister Atul Bora, and included State ministers Keshab Mahanta, Dr Kamala Kalita and former Union minister Biren Baishya.
Former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta had yesterday visited AIIMS in the morning.
Describing Vajpayee as a towering personality and a powerful national voice who had played crucial roles even on the international political arena, Prof Mukhi said that in his death the nation has lost an eminent statesman who had earned the unique distinction of being the only non-Congress leader to be the Prime Minister of the country on three occasions.
Later, talking to this newspaper, Biren Baishya said that the country has lost a great personality.
�We had met him on several occasions and he always received us with warmth and talked with an open mind,� the AGP leader recalled.
�During a devastating flood in Assam, he had extended full cooperation. When I was Union minister I had the occasion to meet him closely,� added Baishya.
