President Mukherjee Breaks Protocol, Reaches Palam Airport To Pay Tribute To Kalam
28 July, New Delhi
In an unprecedented gesture to pay his respects to an extraordinaryman, President Pranab Mukherjee, Tuesday reached the Palam Air Force station here to receive mortal remains of former President Bharat Ratna APJ Abdul Kalam, whose sudden death in Shillong engulfed the whole nation in gloom.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice-President Hamid Ansari also drove to the airport to pay their tribute to the departed statesman.
Mr Modi, dressed in all white, placed a wreath at the coffin, then folded his hands and bowedbefore retreating.
He was followed by the Vice-President, and then the President.
Earlier, Dr Kalam’s body, which was brought by a special India Air Force plane from Guwahati,was received by the three service chiefs at the airport with full state honours.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Delhi Governor Najeeb Jung and former IAF chief air marshalArjun Singh too paid floral tribute to the former president. Thereafter, a guard of honour was given.
The body was later taken to his 10, Rajaji Marg here from the airport.
Earlier, the Union Cabinet at a special meeting passed a resolution condoling Dr Kalam’s death and paying tribute to him.
Both the Houses of Parliament too paid glowing tributes to Dr Kalam and then were adjourned.
Elaborate arrangements have been made at and around his residence to enable people topay their last respects to their dear leader.
Security has been beefed up as a large number of VVIPs would be coming to his residence to pay their last tribute to the former President.
The body wrapped in Tricolour would lie in state here for enabling the peopleto pay their homage.
The burial will take place in the former President’s birth place of Rameswaram.
Known as ‘People’s President’ and the ‘Missile Man of India’ for pioneering the country’s missile programme’, Dr Kalam was delivering a lecture at IIM Shillong when he collapsedand declared dead at 1945 hrs.
A seven-day national mourning has been declared and messages of condolence and tributes were pouring in from all across the country and abroad.
Mr Mukherjee, who was on a visit to Karnataka cancelled his programmes, and flew back to thecapital.
Mr Mukherjee, Dr Ansari and the Prime Minister have described him as the true son of India who ignited the mind of millions with his work and ideas.
Dr Kalam had served as the President from July 2002 to July 2007.