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Rajmata was tender, yet tough: Vajpayee

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee paid glowing tributes on Thursday to Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia, describing her as an extraordinary personality who never failed in her duties.

Vajpayee will attend the funeral of the senior BJP leader.

Vajpayee arrived at the Lake Vihar Scindia Villa at 1020 IST and visited the room where the rajmata's body had been kept. He later signed the condolence register and paid floral tributes to her portrait.

"Rajmata was tender as a flower but also tough like lightning. She never wavered in her resolve," Vajpayee said.

Earlier in the morning, the rajmata's body was brought to the villa from the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, where it had been taken from the Apollo Hospital for embalming.

Her son and senior Congress politician Madhavrao Scindia escorted the body, but did not utter a word to the media.

Others present at the villa were Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh, who flew in from Bhopal to pay his respects, and Vijay Goel, Bharatiya Janata Party member of the Lok Sabha from Delhi.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vijai Kapoor also paid his respects to Scindia by laying a wreath.

The rajmata's daughter and Union Minister of State for External Affairs Vasundhararaje Scindia received those who had come to pay their respects.

According to the Scindia family, her body will be taken to Gwalior by a special plane. Advani and former BJP president Shashikant 'Kushabhau' Thakre, who also hails from Madhya Pradesh, will accompany the body to Gwalior where it will be placed in the palace for the people to pay their last respects. Madhavrao, her only son, will perform the last rites.

EARLIER REPORT:
Vijayaraje Scindia passes away at 81

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