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'She wept for the poor'

Former Bharatiya Janata Party president Shashikant 'Kushabhau' Thakre pays homage to Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia.

So long as Rajmataji was in the Congress, she was dormant. In 1967, she joined the Jan Sangh, after the Congress government ordered firing on agitating students.

I have had the privilege of knowing her from the day she joined our party. She was a dedicated party leader and would never get tired of visiting her constituency or various parts of India to listen to the problems of people. Sometimes, I wondered from where she got that energy and enthusiasm.

Besides being hardworking, she was a woman of principles. These days, people join politics for posts. But she never aspired for any post. She could have got what she wanted. When offered a post she declined it politely.

She stood for cleanliness in political life. Her style of functioning became a symbol for us in the Bharatiya Janata Party. In the days to come, people would be inspired by her character.

For 33 years, we worked together.

When she visited villages, she would cry on seeing their poor conditions. I have seen her crying and sobbing. People would be touched by her emotions and they would also start crying. I have not seen any other leader get emotional like her.

As told to Onkar Singh

ALSO SEE:
Rajmata was tender, yet tough: Vajpayee
Vijayaraje Scindia dies
She had the courage to stand by her decisions, right or wrong: Jain

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