JORHAT, Aug 17 - Shops and business establishments voluntarily remained shut in the Upper Assam districts today as a mark of respect to former Prime Minister AB Vajpayee, who passed away yesterday.
In the erstwhile undivided Sivasagar district which now are full-fledged districts like Golaghat, Jorhat, Charaideo, Majuli and the parent Sivasagar district, shops and business establishments remained completely closed.
The Jorhat-based Upper Assam Chambers of Commerce and Golaghat-based United Chambers of Commerce last night had urged the business community to suspend their activities for a day to mourn the demise of the great leader.
With the State Government declaring a holiday today, all Government offices and educational institutions therefore remained closed. Vehicular traffic was thin on the roads.
Condolence meetings by various organisations at community halls and at street corners in the localities by installing a picture of Vajpayee were organised to pay homage to the departed leader.
SILCHAR: Mourning the passing away of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who left for his heavenly abode on Thursday at the age of 93, streets of Silchar, the second-biggest urban sprawl of the State wore a deserted look on Friday as people from all walks of life kept themselves off their daily chores by paying tributes to the statesman.
Besides Government offices and educational institutions, shutters of all the private trade and commerce centres were down throughout the day.
In many places, arrangements were made to instal portraits of Vajpayee where people gathered and paid their last respects. Faculty members, students and staff of Assam University Silchar, National Institute of Technology Silchar and other establishments condoled the demise of the former Prime Minister.
Tributes were also paid by State Minister for Forest and Environment Parimal Suklabaidya, former Union Minister and octogenarian BJP leader Kabindra Purakayastha, Silchar MLA Dilip Kumar Paul and other functionaries of the party at the district BJP office.
It was also announced that an open meeting would be convened at Banga Bhawan wherein citizens of Silchar can pay tributes to the departed leader.
Meanwhile, expressing her grief, Congress MP from Silchar Sushmita Dev recalled memories of her first meeting with Vajpayee way back in 1992 at her elder sister�s marriage in New Delhi.
�Atalji had a cordial relationship with my father (Late Santosh Mohan Dev). He had visited our residence and embraced my father, sharing the joy on that occassion. His demise is a massive loss for the nation,� Dev said.
DOOMDOOMA: Doomdooma Press Club (DPC) condoled the death of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
In a condolence message, DPC president Arjun Baruah and secretary Manoj Dutta termed his death as an irreparable loss for the country.
Tinsukia District Journalists� Association (TDJA) also mourned the death of the former Prime Minister of the country.
In a condolence message, TDJA president Anuj Kalita and secretary Manoranjan Das said that the contributions of Vajpayee to the nation as well as to the field of Hindi poetry would keep him alive in the hearts of million of his admirers.
Learners High School, Learners Junior College, Doomdooma Jatiya Vidyalaya, Rupai High School, Hoonlal HS School, Doomdooma Girls� High School, Doomdooma College, Doomdooma unit of Asam Sahitya Sabha, BJP Doomdooma Town Mandal, Doomdooma branch Marwari Yuva Mancha and several other organisations, institutions and individuals condoled the death of AB Vajpayee.
KOKRAJHAR: The demise of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was deeply mourned by all sections of people, organisations and political parties here.
BTC Chief, deputy chief, executive members, officers and staff of Bodoland Territorial Council Secretariat expressed profound grief at the demise of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and prayed for etearnal peace of the departed soul.
The All Bodo Students� Union (ABSU) also paid rich tributes to the former Prime Minister at Pragati Bhawan in the heart of Kokrajhar town.
As a mark of respect, all Government offices and educational institutions remained closed today in Kokrajhar.
