Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra, along with a team of his officials, will be visiting Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu to collect the belongings and memorabilia of former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam with the purpose to set up a ‘Knowledge Centre’ in the memory of Dr Kalam at Dilli Haat, INA Market Sarojini Nagar.
Top sources told The Pioneer that Mishra had earlier planned to visit Rameswaram on April 3. “Because of the reports suggesting PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti is to take oath as the Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir on Tuesday, he has rescheduled his visit as he wants to hold a protest in Delhi. Mishra had been demanding that Mehbooba Mufti should also say ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai (Victory to Mother India)’ before taking over as the Chief Minister.”
According to sources, there are indications that the Government will be opening the “Knowledge Centre” before Dr Kalam’s death anniversary on July 27. Mishra, along with the Delhi Government’s officials, are visiting Rameswaram on April 5 to collect the belongings and memorabilia of Dr Kalam. “Till the time the Centre is opened, Dr Kalam’s belongings including his musical instruments, clothes, awards, gifts, books and Bhagwad Geeta will be kept inside the Delhi Assembly,” sources said.
Terming the AAP Government’s move as politically motivated, BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri said AAP leaders are trying to appease a particular community for vote bank purposes.
“When the name of Aurangzeb road was changed in the name of Dr Kalam, one of AAP MlA has opposed the move of the NDMC. Now they are claiming the legacy of Dr Kalam,” said Bidhuri, adding that a recent survey by a political party has shown that popularity of AAP in Ballimaran has drastically declined.
According to Delhi Congress leader Chattar Singh, the AAP Government is desperately making an effort to project itself image as nationalist.
The opening of the “Knowledge Centre” had created a major controversy with the Centre rejecting Dr Kalam’s family’s request that the same be set up at the former President’s official residence at 10 Rajaji Marg in the national Capital. The Centre had instead allotted the two-storey bungalow to Mahesh Sharma, the junior Culture Minister who had controversially described the People’s President as a “nationalist and humanist despite
being a Muslim.”
While Dr Kalam’s family was keen to convert his residence into the “Centre for Knowledge”, they could not convince the Centre owing to the existing rules in Delhi. Upset over the Centre’s rejection, Dr Kalam’s nephew Haja Syed Ibrahim had even quit the BJP. He had joined the saffrom brigade in 2012. He was appointed as a State vice president for the BJP’s minority wing.
Soon after that the AAP Government on its own came forward and announced setting up of the “Knowledge Centre” in Delhi. In a thanksgiving letter to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Dr Kalam’s elder brother APJ Mohammad Muthur Meeran lebbai said the former President’s personal library consisting of innumerable collection of unique books may be used by students, aspiring civil servants, practicing professionals and interested citizens. He had suggested that the “National Centre for Knowledge Discovery” could also provide online access to discovery of knowledge to enrich and empower people to work towards national development.
lebbai had suggested setting up of the “Inspirational Augmented Virtual Reality Simulation Centre” where students could interact with virtual Dr Kalam and get oath for enlightened citizenship. For youth, he had suggested them to study the sustainable development systems for making this nation great through his books and other resources.
Dr Kalam died on July 27 in Shillong and was laid to rest at his native Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu with full State honours on July 30.