ITANAGAR, Aug 24 (PTI): The ashes of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was today immersed at Parsuram Kund, the holy place in Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh.

As the Sky One chopper carrying the urn containing the ashes of  Vajpayee landed at the helipad near the Kund,  thousands of people gathered to pay homage to their beloved leader. A full guard of honour was also presented at the helipad.

Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein accompanied by Art & Culture Minister Dr Mohesh Chai, BJP state unit President Tapir Gao , General secretaries Jarpum Gamlin and Lelong Lingfa and Secretary Sange Thungon  along with civil and police officials immersed the ashes in the kund after performing puja and all-religion prayer. Also, guard of honour was given. Earlier, the urn containing the ashes was kept at Pasighat Advance Landing Ground (ALG) for half-an-hour for public viewing.

Recalling the contribution of Vajpayee to the North East, Mein said that during his (Vajpayee's) tenure as the prime minister, a special package was prepared for the region.

His contribution to North East was immense which is now evident in the region be it in the form of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) or in the science and technology sector," Mein said adding, all the politicians should follow his principles and ideology.

Remembering the days spent with the former prime minister, Gao said that Vajpayee was an inspiration for all and a disciplined person.

Whenever I met him, he used to ask me about Arunachal, though at that time we had no BJP government in the state. He used to motivate us to continue to work for the people, Gao added.

On Thursday, Gao brought the ashes from New Delhi which was kept at the party office before it was taken to Dorjee Khandu Convention Hall here for public viewing.

People of Pasighat pay floral tributes: Along with rest of the nation, the people of Pasighat also paid rich floral tributes to the Asthi (ashes) of former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee which was brought to Pasighat via Naharlagun en route Parsuram Khund.

The Asthi Kalash was displayed in the waiting hall of the domestic terminal of Pasighat Airport for public viewing for an hour this morning where the general public, government officials, BJP party workers paid floral tributes.  Among those who paid floral tributes were DC East Siang, Tamiyo Tatak, SP Prashant Gautam, BJP Pravari and Kishan Morcha State President Dunggoli Libang, District BJP President, Tamat Jonnom, party workers, officers, leaders, PMA members and the general public.