JD(U) president Sharad Yadav on Sunday hit out at former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam for his comments that he was ready to appoint Sonia Gandhi as Prime Minister in 2004 despite intense lobbying against her.
Mr. Yadav, who is also the NDA convenor, said “his (Kalam’s) conscience has woken up late. It is for self-aggrandisement. We used to respect him a lot but now are very saddened after such comments”.
The JD(U) chief’s comments against Mr. Kalam, who was made president during NDA regime, came after the former president revealed in a book that he was ready to swear in Sonia Gandhi as Prime Minister in 2004 without any hesitation even as there was intense political opposition from some quarters on the issue of her foreign origin.
In his book “turning points”, Mr. Kalam also suggested that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was not keen about his visit to Gujarat following the riots there in 2002.
Mr. Kalam’s remark has given the Congress an occasion to question Mr. Vajpayee’s commitment to ‘Rajdharma’ which the former prime minister is learnt to have advised Narendra Modi to follow in Gujarat.
Mr. Yadav questioned as to why Mr. Kalam remained silent for eight years even as “wild rumours and gossips” went on in the political space.
Mr. Yadav said, “Constitutional head should speak out the truth when it is required. Talking of conscience when it suits you does not matter. Gandhiji used to speak according to his conscience immediately. Why did he (Kalam) kill his conscience then”.
The JD(U) chief also sought to know the reason for speaking out truth eight years after the event unfolded.
“Truth should be spoken when it is needed. If it is spoken out when it is not required then it is affectation. One who is cheating in the president’s house has a duty to speak out the truth in such situations and not wait for an opportune time to speak out the truth”, he said.
The Constitution clearly says that the President does not have a choice
to not appoint the leader of the majority party if they come forward to
be the PM. Sonia was declared as an Indian Citizen by the Supreme
Court. Being the leader of the majority party, she had a right to the
post of PM if she had wanted it. It is not a question of the
President's conscience at all; it is simply his constitutional
obligation. Mr. Yadav should stop trying to convince the masses
otherwise.
People in responsible positions are expected to be responsible in their utterances, and DR Abdul kalam who won the hearts of millions in this country, while holding office and after did not play the role of a chatter box at any stage till date. If he was eager to take up the Position of the president of India for the second time recently, he could have released the extract from his book a fortnight earlier, to get more support from many parties to dampen the support of the other two leaders in the present battle for the highest office in India. He Is a man of very high stature, who refused to play to the gallery, and will never resort to Games , for achievement of results. He has opened out his heart at the right time to remove the misconceptions on a sensitive issue all along. He has become greatness Personified at this stage and the future historian will record, that he has become the greatest amongst the presidents till date.
Hello mr yadav you don't have any right to criticise the great personality Dr A.p.j Abdulkalam.
All these statements of Sharad Yadav is politically motivated. There
is no logic in his statements. A person can not spell out all what he
thinks in public. This is very true at least when the person holds a
position of high repute and responsibility and knows that a single
statement can bring about resentment in public domain.
Now since Kalam sir has written a book, he has put all what he
experienced during his tenure as president. There is nothing wrong in
it. I think all politicians should learn to be honest like him instead
of doing statement surgery.
Shrad Yadav is right.Dr.Kalam ought not to have shown interest to seek second term.He ought not have released his book at this moment.
Prnab vs Sangma going to create avoidable trouble in the polity of the country. Dr.Kalam put Sonia in an embrassing position now, when the country is getting ready for 2014 Election. This will further affect the prospects of the Congress and brighten the scope for NDA to secure more seats.Of course Sharad is right that the late revelation of the old incident at this moment lower the esteem of Dr.Kalam has with the people.Dr.Kalam now lost his regard both with the Congress and the BJP as well.It is to be seen how Dr.Kalam now handle this political fall out,telling the old story with new twist.
India does not need a president. Best thing is to build a temple/Mosque/church/Gurdwara/Dargah in Rashtrapathi Bhavan. When an advice is required, Let the politicians group there and pray according to their respective belief and take a collective decision. All the remaining areas and artefacts can be converted to a museum/memorial for great indian leaders and soldiers. Visit to this place shall be compulsory as a part of the secondary school curriculum.
The President's post is a gross over-burden to the country. As a tax payer I am asking this question. Why should I waste my tax money for a dummy post?
An unanimously elected leader has many priority things to be done. Just because he is a leader he cannot say whatever he feels is right setting aside many other important and burning issues. What Kalamji has done is the right thing. When he feels something it does not mean he should openly tell to the world. That might be his personal opinion. Talking about TRUTH can anyone count how many politicians talk truth, its anybodys guess! So let us not criticise just let us take our country forward and elect the next good leader.
What is Mr. Sharad Yadav saying? When the drama of Mrs.Sonia Gandhi was being played out in the parliament in fromt of the nation,with all elected representatives asking her to be P.M., and she refusing, he expects the President to suddenly come out and say that he is willing to make her the Prime Minister?
Mr.Yadav would have been the first person to question him regarding interference in the Democratic process?
Who is trying to get cheap publicity?
Dr.Kalam has written a book and referred to various historical political events that took place during his tenure as President. His observations are his honest and personal. The book is for posterity to have a feel of how events folded out and his thoughts and observations. We are grateful for that.
I would like Mr.Sharad Yadav to write a book about when he was in power or held a government office and his position and reason he took those positions honestly. Then let us comment on it.
I do not think there is no wrong on the part of the former President.
He had clarified his position at that time itself. I clearly remember
that The Hindu had carried a press release from Rashtrapathy Bhavan
refuting the rumor that the President refused to swear in Sonia
Gandhi. Despite the clear press release, politicians and a section of the
press continued with the rumor. What else a preseident is expected to
do clear the air. The general public relish this kind of rumors.
I have a feeling that Dr. Kalam has to explain a lot about his then-actions and what transpired before his decisions. He owes that much to the nation.
Sharad Yadav is now supporting the candidate nominated by UPA for presidency. There are two more players on the incident of appointment of PM, quoted by him. Let Ms. Gandhi or Mr. Manmohan speak the truth OR negate what transpired. As a matured politician, Mr. Sharad Yadav should have kept his mouth shut and waited for the personal reaction, if any, of either of the other two players. Asfor the proposed Gujarat visit, both Mr. Vajpayee and Mr. Advani are alive and Mr. Sharad Yadav should wait for their personal reactions.
Sharad Yadav, a politician, has no right to criticise a person of so high a stature as Shri A P J Abdul Kalam. Shri Abdul Kalam has cleared the air about being accused by the Congress Party of having blocked the Italian, Sonia Gandhi,becoming the Prime Minister of India. Sonia Gandhi did not have the requisite qualification to become the prime minister of India. Yet Shri Abdul Kalam was prepared to go by the rule book and had readied himself and the Rashtrapathi Bhavan to swear in Sonia as PM if she had staked claim to be the PM of India as per the constitution of India. He simply forwarded the emails and letters received from various quarters to the government which again was his duty. He did not do anything wrong to be criticised by politicians like Sharad Yadav. Abdul Kalam has just released his book, "Turning points" in which he has come out with facts of what happened in 2004.
It seems that you are quite upset with the disclosure of the erstwhile
president regarding the sacrifice of Mrs. Gandhi thereby questioning
the timing of such disclosure. I failed to understand that if there
is a delay of 8 years in such disclosure how it would have been
distinct if it have been revealed by Mr. Kalam at that point of time
when it came to his knowledge. This is a known fact that there was no
constitutional embargo in case Mrs.Gandhi could have opted to became
P.M. of the nation. Further within the Congress Party there was none
who could have successfully succeeded in getting the post of Prime
Minister without her consent . The elections were contested in her
leadership where Mr. Yadav and his party including their allies were
heavily defeated despite their all efforts. Congress Party was not
obliged to pay any attention towards the opposition for selection of
P.M. In such case if she has opted out herself from the highest post
which one can achieve is incredible.
Mr. Sharad Yadhav deserves appreciation for giving clear expression to the disturbed feelings of millions of neutral observers of India, in this particular issue!
Our dear leader Sharad yadav must be well aware of why Mr. Kalaam could
not speak the truth during NDA regime. Still asking questions in public
to defame him when he is speaking the truth. Better late than never...., at least he spoke the truth.
Please Email the Editor