Tuesday, 28 July 2015

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam's body arrives at 10 Rajaji Marg residence; VIPs, public to pay last respects

India's favourite (former) president APJ Abdul Kalam passed away in Shillong, Meghalaya, on Monday evening. Kalam died of cardiac arrest. His body has now been brought to Delhi. Here are the live updates:

14:15 PM

Dr Kalam's body has now been taken inside his 10, Rajaji Marg residence and will lie in state there till tomorrow
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14:13 PM

The convoy carrying the body of former president APJ Abdul Kalam has arrived at his residence 10, Rajaji Marg. The casket will now be taken inside bungalow where dignitaries and general public will pay last respects.

14:05 PM

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav arrive at late former president Dr Kalam's residence in Delhi.

13:28 PM

President Pranab Mukherjee speaks on Dr Kalam: "After 1977 only Dr Kalam was elected President unopposed. Even during Dr Rajendra Prasad's nomination there was contest, it was useless but still there was contest."
"I received 2-3 poems which he wrote, (Dr Kalam) used to quietly write when we went to pay respects to soldiers. He had a mighty mind," President Pranab adds.

13:26 PM

Dr Kalam's body is currently en route to his 10, Rajaji Marg residence where VVIPs and other dignitaries will pay their last respects to the late president till 4 pm. Afterwards, gates will be thrown open to the public to pay tributes to the 'People's President'.
 

13:21 PM

The Bihar government has renamed Bihar Agricultural University (Kishanganj) as Dr Kalam Agricultural University as a tribute to the former president.
 
12:59 PM

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Mortal remains of late former president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam are now being taken in a gun carriage to his residence 10, Rajaji Marg in Delhi where public will be allowed to pay last respects to the missile man beginning 4 pm. The last rites will be held at Dr Kalam's native place Rameswaram tomorrow.

12:54 PM

Meanwhile, PTI reports that Rajya Sabha has been adjourned for tomorrow also in order to allow MPs to attend Dr Kalam's funeral scheduled for Wednesday.

12:49 PM

In honour of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Andhra Pradesh government and its employees will work an extra hour today, it has been announced. Earlier today, Telangana government had announced a holiday today.

12:45 PM

Army, Navy and Air Force personnel are now giving the Tri-Service Guard of Honour to former president APJ Abdul Kalam at the Palam airport.

12:44 PM

President Pranab Mukherjee pays last respects to former head of state Dr APJ Abdul Kalam at the Palam airport.

12:43 PM

Vice President Hamid Ansari pays last respects to Dr Kalam.

12:41 PM

PM Narendra Modi lays wreath and pays tributes to late president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.

12:39 PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Palam airport to receive Dr Kalam's body.


12:33 PM

Tributes are being being paid to former president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam at the Palam airport. Among those laying wreath include the three Service Chiefs, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

12:23 PM

Army, Navy and Air Force personnel to give the Tri-Service Guard of Honour to former president APJ Abdul Kalam shortly.

12:23 PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi describes Dr APJ Abdul kalam as a 'Rashtra Ratna​'.

12:15 PM

Special IAF plane carrying mortal remains of former president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam lands at Palam technical area of the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

12:01 PM

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar arrives at Palam technical area of IGI Airport to receive Dr Kalam's body.
 
11:54 AM

All three Service Chiefs arrive at Palam airport to receive mortal remains of former president APJ Abdul Kalam. PM Narendra Modi expected to arrive shortly.

11:45 AM

IAF flight carrying former president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam's mortal remains to land in Delhi shortly, reports ANI.

11:31 AM

The Union Cabinet has decided that the last rites of the former president APJ Abdul Kalam will be held at his native place Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu.

11:29 AM

News websites are reporting that the Union Cabinet has passed two separate resolutions condoling the death of former president APJ Abdul Kalam.

11:27 AM

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi pays tributes to APJ Abdul Kalam, says he was the People's President.
 "Dr Kalam had the ability to connect with the youth of India. He dedicated his life to work, be it the missile program or being President. He will always be in our memory," Rahul adds.
 

11:25 AM
Dr Kalam was a great personality, was not only known as President of India but as People's President, says MoS Home Kiren Rijiju.
 
Dr Kalam was a symbol of unity, says PM Modi.   
11:13 AM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is paying tributes to Dr Kalam right now. Modi says Kalam was a simple man.
 
11:05 AM

Both House of Parliament pay rich tributes to former president APJ Abdul Kalam. MPs observe a minute's silence as a mark of respect for Dr Kalam.
Also, Lok Sabha has been adjourned till Thursday so as to allow MPs to attend Dr Kalam's funeral likely to be held tomorrow.
Rajya Sabha has, meanwhile, been adjourned till tomorrow.

11:01 AM

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will leave for Delhi today, to pay his respects to former president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, reports ANI.
"Dr Kalam was not only the President of the nation, but also a mentor, a guide to the entire country. He had a vision for the country," says Nitish Kumar.
 
10:54 AM

Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani has announced that the Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan will be renamed as APJ Abdul Kalam Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan as a tribute to former president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam who passed away yesterday.

10:43 AM

The last rites of former president APJ Abdul Kalam are likely to be held in his native town Rameswaram as per the wishes of the family members, IANS quoted a senior official at Tamil Nadu's Ramanathapuram district as saying.
"A large number of relatives, friends, well wishers and common people have gathered at Kalam's house at Rameswaram," APJMK Sheik Saleem, the former president's grandson, told IANS over phone. Saleem is the son of Kalam's brother APJM Maraikayar.
"The central government normally would consider positively the wishes of the family members on matters like this. The government is yet to confirm the date on which the former president's body would arrive at Rameswaram," the official said.

10:30 AM

Two minutes' silence observed at BJP parliamentary party meeting this morning as a mark of respect for former president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, says Rajiv Pratap Rudy.
BJP president Amit Shah expressed his deepest condolences at Dr Kalam's demise, Rudy adds.

10:18 AM

Holiday has been declared in Telangana as a mark of respect for former president APJ Abdul Kalam who passed away yesterday.
"The Government of Telangana deeply mourns the sudden demise of former president Sri APJ Abdul Kalam and declares that all government offices, local bodies and educational institutions shall remain closed today as a mark of respect to the departed soul, says a Telangana government statement.

10:17 AM
  I knew Dr Kalam very closely, such a patriotic scientist who wanted to strengthen the country to fight enemies, says former PM HD Deve Gowda.
"​He wanted to strengthen the country from all angles, not only in field of defense but in education and agriculture as well as per his vision 2020," adds Deve Gowda.
10:07 AM

09:51 AM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar and the three Service Chiefs will receive the mortal remains of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam at Palam airport, tweets Defence Ministry spokesperson Sitanshu Kar.

09:45 AM

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal says Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was 'People's President'.
The common man could relate to him, his demise is a big loss to the nation, says Kejriwal.
"He came to the Delhi Secretariat on July 2 and 3, had a great experience talking to him. He praised the initiative taken by us in the field of education. He told us that first and foremost he's a teacher, and added that the time he spent in teaching was the best time of his life," the Delhi CM adds.

09:45 AM

An Indian Air Force aircraft has departed from the Guwahati airport carrying the mortal remains of former president APJ Abdul Kalam. The plane is expected to land at the Palam airport in Delhi at around 12.30 pm.

09:38 AM

An irreparable loss to India and global scientific community, says former ISRO chief G Madhavan on Dr Kalam's demise.

09:36 AM

"The sudden death of former president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam has shocked the entire nation. Kalam is a great son of this country, his death is an irreparable loss to the country and the people," says Union minister Venkaiah Naidu.
"Real tribute to Dr Kalam would be following simplicity, honesty, integrity and living for the country. He always inspired young generation to think big and have dreams and work hard to achieve those dreams," adds Naidu.

09:35 AM

The Union government has announced a seven-day state mourning throughout the country as a mark of respect to former president APJ Abdul Kalam. However, no holiday has been declared and all government offices will remain open today.

09:23 AM

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam contributed in development of rocket technology,We remember him as a person who is extremely knowledgeable, says ISRO chief Kiran Kumar.
He adds: "Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was a person of both spiritual values and scientific approach. Kalam was very amicable, he used to interact with everyone with simplicity; it's a great loss to the country."

09:00 AM  
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to receive former president Kalam's body at the Palam airport in the capital, say reports. 
 
08:30 AM
Dr Kalam was the simplest human being I have ever known, says Bharat Ratna CNR Rao.
"His simplicity was the greatest quality he had, bigger you get simpler you become, he was like that. He wanted India to shine, everything he did in his life was for this; he wanted India to be very powerful," Rao adds.
"​Dr Kalam even passed away while talking to children, god must have blessed him."

08:00 AM

The Union Cabinet will hold a special meeting in New Delhi at around 10 am to condole Kalam's death. The date, place and time of his funeral would also be decided today.

07:30 AM

The body of former president Kalam will be flown to New Delhi on Tuesday by a special aircraft from Guwahati. Kalam's body is currently kept at the Lokapriya Gopinath Borodoloi International Airport at Guwahati where it was brought from Shillong at 6:15 am by an Air Force helicopter.

06:45 AM

The body of former president APJ Abdul Kalam has been brought to the Lokapriya Gopinath Borodoloi International Airport at Guwahati. Senior leaders and a host of officials joined in paying tribute to the country's 'missile man' at Guwahati airport.
Meghalaya Governor V Shanmughanathan travelled alongside as the body was ferried to Guwahati and later paid floral tributes to the Bharat Ratna.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi led the state in paying respect to Kalam, calling Kalam's death an "irreparable loss" to the nation.
"It is an irreparable loss to the nation. He loved children, he loved the nation. I have met him many times. I took him to rural areas of Assam. He was a very simple and honest man. Along with India, entire state is mourning his death," Gogoi said.
Kalam was one of the most popular faces of the country and he was "young in spirit till his last moment", he said.
Former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta also paid his respect to Kalam, the 'people's President'.
Host of senior Assam government officials, including Chief Secretary V K Pipersenia, DGP Khagen Sarma, Additional Chief Secretary MGVK Bhanu, Home Commissiner LS Changsan and Guwahati Police Commissioner Mukesh Agrawal too joined in paying rich tribute to the late former President.
Many senior officials from the Army and Air Force were present on the occasion and also paid their respect to the 'missile man' of the country.
Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President Anjan Dutta and other senior party leaders were also present and paid their respects.
Kalam, who would have turned 84 in October, died after suffering a massive cardiac arrest during a lecture at the IIM Shillong yesterday.
He was confirmed dead more than two hours after he was wheeled into the ICU of Bethany Hospital in a critical condition following the collapse at around 6.30 pm.
The body of the late former president was shifted from Bethania Hospital, where he breathed his last, to the Military Hospital in Shillong, Defence Public Relations Officer Amit Mahajan said.
The Union government has announced a seven-day state morning in honour of Kalam, who became affectionately known as the 'People's President'.

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