After observing silence for 18 years, 'Mauni Baba' Sunderlal Vishwakarma on Tuesday spoke after meeting Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Bhopal.

"Jai Shri Ram" were the first words uttered by an emotional Vishwakarma, resident of Ghansaur in Seoni district of Madhya Pradesh, when he met Vajpayee at Culture and Water Resources Minister Anup Mishra's residence.

Physically handicapped in a road accident, 75-year-old Vishwakarma vowed to observe silence way back in 1986 until he saw Vajpayee as PM. He had vowed to end his 'Maun Vrat' in the presence of Vajpayee.

It was Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti who introduced 'Mauni Baba' to the PM and narrated the story behind his vow.

An admirer of Vajpayee over the past three decades, Vishwakarma had approached Bharti during her 'Janata Darbar' in Bhopal on January 14 and she assured him that his dream of meeting Vajpayee would be fulfilled soon.

After Vajpayee's visit was finalised, Vishwakarma was called from his village.