Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a statesman, poet par excellence and adorable politician who rose above partisans politics and was loved and respected even by his political opponents. This was stated by the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur after dedicating Atal Sadan constructed at a cost of about Rs. 20 crore at Kullu on the occasion of birth anniversary of the late Prime Minister Bharat Ratana Atal Bihari Vajpayee.He also paid rich tributes to late Atal Bihari Vajpayee by paying floral tributes on his portrait at Atal Sadan.The Chief Minister said that Rohtang Tunnel would be named after Atal Bihari Vajpayee as the idea of this tunnel was the brain child of Shri Vajpayee which was important from strategic point of view and would provide throughout year connectivity to tribal district Lahaul-Spiti. He said that a statue of Atal Bihari Vajpayee would be installed at Ridge Maidan, Shimla. A small statue of Shri Vajpayee would also be established at Atal Sadan Kullu, he added.Jai Ram Thakur said that Atal Bihari Vajpayee carries so many sentiments for the 21st century Indians. He said that it was the strong will power of Shri Vajpayee Ji, that he successfully conducted five underground nuclear tests at Pokhran. Shri Vajpayee was also the first Indian to address the United Nations in Hindi, he added.
Jai Ram Thakur said that Atal Bihari Vajpayee had special love for the state as well as its people. Shri Vajpayee chose Himachal Pradesh as his second home and had a house at Prini near Manali. He said that even his political adversaries would acknowledge his oratory skills. He said that he was an outstanding parliamentarian, who would even force his political opponents to listen to him. Forest and Transport Minister Govind Thakur while paying rich tributes to late Atal Bihari Vajpayee said that beside as an excellent politician, Shri Vajpayee is also remembered as a captivating orator and an empathetic poet. Kavi Samelan was also held on the occasion where Jai Dev Vidrohi, Vivek Sharma, Satya Pal Bhatnagar and Palvi Sharma recited poems. MP Ram Swaroop Sharma, MLA Banjar Surinder Shourie, MLA Anni Kishori Lal Sagar, MLA Kullu Sunder Singh Thakur, former MLA Maheshwar Singh, HPMC Vice Chairman Ram Singh, District BJP President Bhim Sain, Secretary Language and Culture Dr. Purnima Chauhan, Deputy Commissioner Kullu Yunus were present among others on the occasion.