Lucknow, Aug 18: Prominent Shia cleric Maulana Saif Abbas has appealed Muslims across the nation to celebrate Bakra Eid in a subtle manner as a token of respect towards late former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The cleric has urged the community members against holding an extravagant celebration as it could be considered insensitive and disrespectful towards the BJP patriarch, who passed away on Thursday.

"Appeal to Muslim brothers to celebrate Bakrid in a subtle & simple way as our national flag is at half-mast for former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Read namaz and perform qurbani (animal sacrifice) and leave it to that as a token of respect," Maulana Abbas was reported as saying by news agency ANI.

Notably, Vajpayee is a household name in Lucknow where Shia Muslims form a significant section of the population. The city was also the last parliamentary constituency represented by the late leader in the Lok Sabha.

Vajpayee breathed his last at the AIIMS in Delhi, where he was hospitalised since June 11. Although a urinary tract infection was the immediate cause for his admission to the medical facility, Vajpayee's overall health had deteriorated in 2009, when he suffered a stroke followed by dementia which left him speech-impaired.

The former three-time PM's last rites held with full state honours at the Smriti Sthal in the national capital. The funeral was attended by millions of his admirers and supporters, including delegations from neighbouring nations - Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 18, 2018 08:43 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).