Pak woman's marriage request, Kashmir 'gift', and Vajpayee's response

Beyond the statesman that he was, an understated quality of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was his sharp wit and humour. As the nation marked Vajpayee's 101st birth anniversary, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took a trip down memory lane to recount several instances highlighting the former PM's characteristic humour.

One of the defining moments of Vajpayee's tenure was his Lahore bus yatra in February 1999. During his visit, the Lahore Declaration was signed, which aimed to de-escalate tensions between India and Pakistan after nuclear tests.

Speaking at an event, Rajnath Singh, among the few present-day BJP leaders to have worked closely with Vajpayee, shared an interesting anecdote during the former PM's visit to Pakistan. Rajnath recounted that an unmarried Pakistani woman, impressed by Vajpayee's speech, proposed marriage to him. As a gift, she wanted Kashmir.

"During a visit to Pakistan, a woman asked Vajpayee, 'Would you marry me, and give Kashmir in exchange'," Rajnath recalled.

Vajpayee's oratorical skills were well known. His sharp wit was also on show. Vajpayee told the woman 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.

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