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Memorial of India's missile man to be built in Rameswaram

Memorial to Kalam to come up at Rameswaram

The foundation for a memorial in the honour of former President A P J Abdul Kalam will be laid on July 27 in Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said today.

 

Responding the issue raised by Derek O'Brien (TMC) in Rajya Sabha in Zero Hour, he said while the Centre wanted 5 acres of land for the memorial, as of now only 1.8 acres was available.

 

Tamil Nadu government is supporting "what we are trying to do," he said, adding that on July 27, "we have already decided that whatever land is available, we are setting up a memorial for which foundation will be laid. On 27th, we are going ahead with the programme on the land already in our possession.

 

"Design has been finalised and we are not waiting for additional land," Parrikar said.


As O'Brien said the Centre was saying it was not getting land, AIADMK members were on their feet.

 

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien tried to pacify the agitating AIADMK members, saying "what he is saying may not be pleasing to you, but he has a right to say".

 

The TMC member said he was not blaming either the central or the state government for the delay, but wanted a solution to the problem so that the memorial could be set up.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had last year announced that a memorial would be constructed to commemorate the life and works of Kalam, also known as India's Missile Man, at Rameswaram in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu where he is buried.

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