<span style="color: #222222;">Condolences are pouring in from all quarters following former Prime Minister's demise. President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have expressed grief at the passing away of the veteran BJP leader. <br />'' </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">President Kovind described Vajpayee as a true Indian statesman saying his leadership, foresight, maturity and eloquence put him in a league of his own. He said Atalji, the Gentle Giant, will be missed by one and all. <br />'' <br />'' In his condolence message, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a friendly and lovable Prime Minister. He said, in his passing away, India has lost a multi-faceted jewel. <br />'' <br />'' Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a televised address, said that the thoughts, ideas and words of former Prime Minister will always remain with people and will always inspire them. He said, in the passing away of  Atal Ji, India has lost its 'anmol ratna'. Mr Modi said, the demise has marked the end of an era and it is a void which can never be filled. </span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />'' <br />'' </span><span style="color: #222222;">The Prime Minister said, he has lost a father figure and Atal Ji taught him valuable aspects about organisation and administration. He said, through his leadership and struggles, Atal Ji strengthened the Jana Sangh and the BJP and took the parties to every part of the country. <br />'' <br />'' Former President Pranab Mukherjee described Vajpayee as a Democrat to the core saying he had dominated the opposition space like a titan and led the government with aplomb. <br />'' <br />'' Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Vajpayee was an excellent orator, an impressive poet, an exceptional public servant, an outstanding Parliamentarian and a great Prime Minister. <br />'' <br />'' Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said the nation lost a great leader. Veteran BJP leader and close colleague of the late leader, Lal Krishna Advani said, Atalji will be remembered as the pioneer of the first ever stable non-Congress coalition government at the Centre. </span><br />'' <span style="color: #333333;"><br />'' </span><span style="color: #222222;">BJP Leader Murli Manohar Joshi said Mr Vajpayee demise was his personal loss. Congress President Rahul Gandhi said India lost a great son who was loved and respected by millions. He said, Vajpayee, will be missed. <br />''</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Sonia Gandhi said Vajpayee's warm personality and his gift of friendship won him admirers and friends across the political spectrum and from every walk of life. <br />''</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">She said, throughout his life, he stood for democratic values and demonstrated this commitment in all his acts whether as a parliamentarian, a cabinet minister or PM. <br />'' </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore said Vajpayee was a daring Prime Minister who made Pokhran possible, a highly principled politician and a poet of inspirational grit who was admired across party lines.<br />'' <br />'' Other Union Ministers including, Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley,  Ravi Shankar Prasad, Ram Vilas Paswan, condoled Vajpayee's death. Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Maharastra and others also expressed their condolences. <br />''</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Former J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti said the demise of Atal Bihari Vajpayee is not only a loss for the country, it is the big loss for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. She said he was the first Prime Minister to understand the agony of the state's people.</span>