Guwahati: From helping tide over its almost empty coffers to checking the threat to its territorial integrity, Atal Bihari Vajpayee helped Assam cope with various crises during Congress veteran Tarun Gogoi's initial years as chief minister.

This was revealed by the three-time former chief minister in a glowing tribute to a "true democrat" who "always" tried to help him whenever he approached Vajpayee, who passed away on Thursday evening.

Gogoi, who first met Vajpayee in 1971, cited four instances where the former Prime Minister helped him in the first four years of his first term from 2001 to 2006. The problems ranged from difficulty in paying salaries to government employees, inability to pay the state's share to secure development projects, threat to territorial integrity following the extension of ceasefire with NSCN (I-M) to Assam, and the danger to Assamese identity owing to the Centre's move to issue work permits to Bangladeshis.

"When I took charge as the chief minister in 2001, Assam was passing through a financially difficult period. We were unable to pay salaries to government employees. We couldn't even utilise the Centre's development funds as we couldn't contribute our state's share. I took up the matter with Vajpayee ji. He agreed to help and referred the matter to the Planning Commission," Gogoi said.

After the Planning Commission expressed its inability to help, Gogoi again approached Vajpayee and requested him to defer the payment of the state's share to secure development funds from the Centre.

"He agreed and that helped me to a great extent to overcome my initial difficulties. Other ministers of his government also helped. As our expenditure rose because of the inflow of central funds, our financial condition improved. He always helped if he could be convinced and never discriminated despite him being from the BJP. It was because of him that the move to shut down two paper mills and the Bokajan cement factory in Assam did not materialise. He was a true democrat, a great statesman and a good human being," Gogoi, who was chief minister till May 23, 2016, said.

Vajpayee, according to Gogoi, also agreed to his request to revoke the ceasefire signed with NSCN (I-M) since it was a "threat" to our territorial integrity. "Similarly, when his government was pushing work permits to check the influx from Bangladesh, I contended that it would pose a threat to the Assamese identity. After that he didn't pursue the work permit idea," Gogoi said.

Recalling the role played by Ashok Saikia, a 1971 batch IAS officer from Assam and an important member in the PMO, Gogoi said: "He was like a member of the Vajpayee family and a younger brother to me. He helped us get closer. Our relationship moved beyond the official. The respect was mutual."

Admitting there was a "vast" difference between the BJP's "old guard" and the new crop of party leaders, Gogoi said, "We need more such statesmen for strengthening democracy, ensuring social harmony and all-round development."