July 19, 2016
Trinamool’s Derek pushes for quick completion of neglected Kalam memorial
Sir, Aaj Guru Purnima ka din hain. Today is the day when we pay homage to our gurus and those who have taught us the good things in life. But are we really doing this, Sir? Five hundred miles away from Chennai, in Rameshwaram, one of our greatest gurus, one of our greatest teachers, is laid to rest. Next week, on 27 July, one year will be completed since he passed.
Besides a tin roof, no work is visible on the site. There have been troubling reports of the site lying in a state of neglect and disrepair. Stray animals and birds defecate in and around the site. Plastic and papers are strewn all over the place. It is a total mess. I am referring to the burial place, the memorial ground of none other than our former President, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
Sir, this issue is above politics, this is about paying tribute to Dr Kalam. I am looking for a solution. The Central Government, through an empowered committee of Ministers, and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) had undertaken this task. From what we read, the buck is being passed around by the Central government claiming more land is needed from the State.
Sir, I am not blaming anybody. The purpose of Zero Hour is to have some action, to get something done. I am not here to blame the Central Government nor am I here to blame the AIADMK or the DMK, we want some action. I am glad that I have brought this up today because the Defense Minister is here.
If the problem is solved then we will have the memorial for the great Kalam ji who said, “to succeed in your mission you must have a single dedicated mission to your goal’”. So let us have a single mission today, please don’t fight, let the Defense Minister answer and let us get this memorial going.
