PUDUCHERRY: Lt Governor (in-charge) A K Singh, Chief minister N Rangasamy, former union minister V Narayansamy and other leaders on Tuesday condoled the sudden demise of the former President of India, Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam.
Lieutenant Governor A K Singh paid floral tributes to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam at Raj Nivas on Tuesday. Manoj Parida, chief secretary to government and Parveer Ranjan, IGP also paid tributes. In his message the Lt Governor said a pall of gloom has descended on the entire nation with the demise of Dr A P J Abdul Kalam.
“Sharing his grief with the nation, I express my heartfelt condolences to not only the family but also to every citizen of this country who loved him as their own. The great soul departed doing what he liked best, delivering a lecture and inspiring students. A humanist at heart, his humility and positive spirit reached out to the powerful and the powerless with the same amplitude, changed the contours of the office of the President, bestowing on him the most deserving title of ‘People’s President’,” he said.
He went on to add, “Saddened at the loss of one of the finest human beings, a great son of India, I express my condolences and pray to the Almighty for the great soul to rest in peace.”
Among the political leaders, who paid tributes to the people’s President, were ruling AINRC members, led by party general Secretary and MLA V Bhalan, members of BJP who took out a silent rally and lit candles to mourn the former President’s demise.
Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee members, led by their president A Namassivayam, paid homage to the mortal remains of Kalam in New Delhi.
Pondicherry University Vice-Chancellor Chandra Krishnamurthy said in a message, the news of the demise came as a shock. “We’ve lost the people’s President, ‘Missile Man’, a well of inspiration to the youth of the country, scientist par excellence and an extraordinary guide to the future development of our country”, she said.
CM N Rangasamy in his message said that he was shocked and grieved to hear the demise of the People’s President.
Recalling services rendered by Kalam as a scientist, as the President and his efforts to inspire the youngsters of the country, Rangasamy said that his demise is an ‘irrevocable’ loss to the nation. Expressing condolences to the bereaved family on behalf of the Puducherry administration and on his own behalf, the Chief Minister prayed that his soul may rest in peace.
The CM’s cabinet colleagues and speaker of Territorial Assembly, V Sabapathy, paid floral tributes to a decorated portrait of the former President in the lobby of the Legislative Assembly complex on Tuesday.