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Vajpayee described Indira as Durga's reincarnation

October 30, 2009 14:42 IST
Former Uttar Pradesh Governor Motilal Vohra fondly recalled his last meeting with Indira Gandhi. 'Vohraji we have to improve our party standing in Madhya Pradesh,' she told me, Vohra said.

The following day Vohra was appointed as the state unit in charge of Madhya Pradesh. "It is sad that this time around our association did not last long enough. Not that she felt that I had not been able to measure upto her expectation. But because she had fallen to the bullets of her own body guards. My cherished and beloved leader who inspired millions had been consumed by the death that comes to all of us," Vohra said, moist-eyed.

The iron lady of India, Durga's incarnation who created Bangladesh and defied the US naval power and challenged its might,
is how Bharatiya Janata party's Atal
Bihari Vajpayee described the charismatic former prime minister. "I guess he was speaking from his heart," Vohra said.

"As the leader of third world countries, everyone waited to find out what this grand woman had to say on some matters. When she was called to address UN general assembly at the end of the day, I was worried, but before she began her speech, all the heads of the states were in place. She knew this would happen and she looked at me and smiled," Vohra said.

"Trained by Pandit Nehru she knew when to play her cards. I miss her freedom and wisdom," said the former treasurer of the Congress.
Onkar Singh in New Delhi