Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was known for his sharp wit and humour. As the nation marked Vajpayee’s 101st birth anniversary, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recalled an incident during the former’s visit to Pakistan when Vajpayee displayed his characteristic humour.
In 1999, Vajpayee took bus to attend a summit in Lahore to de-escalate tensions between India and Pakistan after nuclear tests. The event marked one of the defining moments of his tenure.
‘If Pakistan comes in dowry…’: Rajnath Singh recalls the humorous side of Vajpayee
Speaking at an event, Rajnath Singh shared an interesting anecdote from the former PM’s visit to Pakistan. Recalling the humorous side of Vajpayee, Rajnath said that an unmarried Pakistani woman, impressed by Vajpayee’s speech, proposed marriage to him. In exchange, she wanted Kashmir, recalled Rajnath Singh.
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“During a visit to Pakistan, a woman asked Vajpayee, ‘Would you marry me, and give Kashmir in exchange’,” he said.
Vajpayee, using his sharp wit, replied that he was ready to marry her, but would want the whole of Pakistan as dowry. “Vajpayee’s sense of humour was remarkable,” Rajnath said.
The response not only reflected Vajpayee’s sharp humour but also his ability to blend diplomacy, wit while making clear India’s stance on Kashmir.
Vajpayee’s humorous side during Emergency
Another instance where Vajpayee made people laugh with his sharp wit and humour was during the Emergency period, Rajnath Singh said. The Union Minister said Vajpayee was taken to AIIMS after he encountered immense back pain while he was in custody.
When doctors asked him if the back pain was because he had bent down, Rajnath, quoting Vajpayee, said, “Doctor sahib, I do not know how to bend in life; perhaps I must have turned somewhere.”
Known for his sharp wit and humour, Vajpayee also often interacted with the media in his signature style, Rajnath Singh. Narrating an incident from 2006, Rajnath Singh shared an interaction between the BJP leader and some journalists shortly after Congress leader Natwar Singh resigned as external affairs minister after the UPA was rocked by the Iraq oil-for-food contract controversy.
Asked if Singh had been made a scapegoat to protect the Congress, Vajpayee replied, “I am a vegetarian.”
A Bharat Ratna recipient, Vajpayee died on August 16, 2018, at the age of 93, after battling a kidney infection and chest congestion.