Shimla, Aug. 16 -- Leaders across party lines in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday paid rich tributes to former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary, remembering him as a statesman who rose above politics and made the hill state his second home.

Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla described himself as a follower of Vajpayee, underlining the former Prime Minister's ethical stand in politics.

"I am his follower. I believe that he made Himachal Pradesh his home. If politics is kept aside, the whole of Himachal is his follower. In politics, Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji had established a rare talent. When his government fell into a minority, he had said that even if it required using a pair of tongs to...