The Hindu : National : Kalam not to unveil statues or portraits

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Wednesday, Dec 01, 2004

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National

Kalam not to unveil statues or portraits

NEW DELHI, NOV. 30. Setting another precedent, the President, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, has decided not to unveil statues or portraits in the Parliament House.

Mr. Kalam said that he has great reverence and admiration for great leaders of the country but feels that the best tribute to them will be to undertake development projects such as setting up educational institutions, infrastructural facilities and hospitals in places where they are needed, particularly in rural areas.

He said he would participate when such projects are undertaken in the names of great leaders.

Expressing surprise at television reports that the President has declined the invitation to unveil portraits in Parliament on December 3, Rashtrapati Bhavan sources said that Mr. Kalam had unveiled some portraits in the initial stages of his tenure but later taken a "conscious decision." This was conveyed by Mr. Kalam to the then Lok Sabha Speaker, Manohar Joshi, in March last year. Sources said that the President is not invited for such functions, as per his desire.

According to convention, it is the President or the Vice-President who do the honours on such occasions.

PTI

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