BJP red faced after Aligarh mayor says Vajpayee no more

New York : Bharatiya Janata Party was left red faced after an Aligarh mayor on Sunday ignorantly referred former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee as the "deceased" while delivering a speech on the eve of celebrations of the veteran politician's birthday.

While addressing the students of a school in Aligarh, Bharti said, "Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji is no longer with us, but his memories remain." The event was organised to celebrate the 155th birth anniversary of  Madan Mohan Malviya and Vajpayee's 92nd birthday.

Leaders took no time in reacting to it and framed Bharti as the most ignorant leader.

"This kind of statement is unacceptable," said former Aligarh zila panchayat member and Bahujan Samaj Party leader Narendra Pachauri, who went on to advise Bharti not to make public speeches in future, if "she is so ignorant".

However, Bharti accepted her mistake and agreed to tender an unconditional apology for the same.