Now, against the backdrop of the hijacking, Vajpayee's Hindu nationalist-led coalition has effectivelyclosed the door on any kind of discussion with Pakistan.
China is effectively a closed market, so the action has moved to India, one of the few Asian economies forecast to continue growing this year and next.
Hundreds of people turned out on Thursday in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, to protest at the proposals, which would effectively see the town's community hospital closed.