APJ M. J. Sheik Saleem, the grand nephew of former President APJ Abdul Kalam, has announced that the family would launch “Kalam Foundation” in Chennai on October 11 to carry forward the missions of former president A P J Abdul Kalam and realise his visions. The decision comes days after he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Mr. Saleem and V. Ponraj, who was a close aide and advisor to the former President, had jointly announced on September 4 in Rameswaram that they have requested the Prime Minister to set up “Kalam national Centre for Knowledge and Discovery” under the aegis of a foundation to provide a knowledge platform for the students and youth. “Now we, the family members have decided to launch ‘Kalam Foundation” and it will be administered by us,” Mr Saleem told The Hindu on Saturday.
Reacting to Mr. Ponraj’s remarks on Saturday that he could not be given any responsibility in the recently launched ‘Abdulkalam’s Vision India Movement’ because he had joined a political party, Mr Saleem said “that is his wish and decision” though he never aspired for any post in the movement.
“That is his (Mr Ponraj’s) wish but we are launching our own foundation,” he said. The foundation would be administered with the help of well wishers and those who had worked with Kalam, he added.
Asked whether Mr Ponraj would play a role in the foundation, Mr Saleem said he has been invited to take part in the launching function.
