Jayaprakash Rao, a close aide of former President, interacts with scribes

Mysuru :

“Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was a ‘People’s President’ who always thought about building new India,” said Jayaprakash Rao, a close aide of late former President.

He was speaking during an interaction programme organised by Mysore District Journalists’ Association (MDJA) at its premises in city yesterday.

Rao said that though the former President did not speak against corruption in public, he made sure to build a sense of hatred among children against corrupt people.

Talking about Kalam’s simplicity, he mentioned that the former President never travelled in a car with red beacon and added that he treated the guests at Rashtrapathi Bhavan from his own pocket and never used Government funds.

Rao also said that Kalam, who noticed crores of rupees being lost in the purchase of Sukhoi fighter aircraft, had advised the Government of India to come out with indigenous fighter aircrafts which resulted in Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bengaluru, coming out with the same.

Mentioning that an International Foundation would be launched on the occasion of Kalam’s birth anniversary (Oct.15), Rao said the former President had saved his earnings for the Foundation.

MDJA President K. Deepak, General Secretary K.J. Lokesh Babu, City Secretary B. Sreekantswamy were present at the interaction.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / October 15th, 2015