PM, Shah hand urns with Vajpayee's ashes to party chiefs

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Wednesday handed urns with former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's ashes to party presidents from across the country.

The party will be organising 'asthi kalash yatras' in different districts to immerse the ashes in 100 rivers across the country.

The processions will begin from state capitals and will continue through all blocks.

While addressing the event here Minister of State (MoS) Railways Manoj Sinha asserted, "Vajpayee played a pivotal role in the development of this country. His appeal to the people of Gazipur during the 1999 election, helped me to win."

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, and Vajpayee's foster daughter, Namita Bhattacharya were also present at the occasion.

Vajpayee passed away at the age of 93 on August 16 at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi after a period of prolonged illness.