Hindu Makkal Katchi objects to Quran and Bible being placed at Kalam Memorial

The breathtaking memorial of former President Dr APJ Adbul Kalam was inaugurated at Rameswaram by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 27. And it is already embroiled in controversy. 

The ‘Bhagavad Gita’ was engraved on the wooden statue of Kalam. Vaiko-led MDMK and the PMK have raised questions on the need for doing this since the late former president is considered to be someone above religion.

Mr Vaiko said that the classic Sangam literature Thirukural, which Kalam loved the most, would have been more appropriate.

Following this, Kalam's relatives Sheik Dawood and APJM Sheik Salim said, "Some people raised an unnecessary controversy. DRDO officials worked tirelessly for the memorial construction and had not sculpted the Bhagavad Gita near the statue with any ill intention. Now we have left two books, Quran and Bible, near the statue."

This, in turn, did not go down well with the Hindu Makkal Katchi, who, on Sunday, July 30, objected to placing the Bible and the Quran beside the Bhagavad Gita.

Hindu Makkal Katchi leader K Prabhakaran filed a police complaint claiming that the two holy books were placed without permission from authorities.

The Hindu reported Sheik Salim, who is Kalam’s  grand nephew, saying that the books were placed keeping in mind that Kalam was above religion and was a firm believer in secularism. 

The police have issued a CSR.

• Hindu Makkal Katchi
• Quran and Bible
• Kalam Memorial