Tourism and culture minister Mahesh Sharma has been allotted the bungalow of former President A.P.J.
Tourism and culture minister Mahesh Sharma has been allotted the bungalow of former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, a move severely criticised by the AAP, which said the Centre has “insulted” the late President by not converting his residence into a “knowledge centre”.
“I have been allocated 10, Rajaji Marg by the urban development ministry and I have accepted the offer,” Mr Sharma said. He has been staying at his own residence in Noida. When asked about the demand from friends and supporters of Dr Kalam to convert the Rajaji Marg residence into a memorial, Mr Sharma said, “It is the government’s policy not to convert any Lutyen’s bungalow into a memorial.”
He also asserted that the “walls of former President’s house” will inspire him to do better.
Criticising the Centre for not converting Dr Kalam’s residence into a memorial, AAP minister Kapil Mishra said, “Limiting Dr Kalam’s work to Rameswaram only and shifting all his documents, books and even Veena to Rameswaram is insulting. His residence should be converted into a knowledge centre.”
The Delhi Tourism and Culture Minister also added that “If Central government doesn’t have resources and space to build a memorial for Dr.Kalam, let them just hand over all his belongings to Delhi government. Delhi deserves a memorial of Dr.Kalam, he belongs to all of us. His memorial should be in Delhi as well as in Rameshwaram.”
