Paying glowing tributes to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the late leader's popularity was so immense that he remained alive in people's memories despite being completely away from the public life for the last 10 years of his life.

"Nobody can imagine that a person can be alive in people's memories despite being away from public life. But the immense respect and tributes pouring on his demise show that Atalji still rules people's hearts though he was completely away from the public life for 10 long years," Modi said at a condolence meet.