Abdul Kalam to be laid to rest

Penning his tribute to the ‘missile man’ and who was felicitated with the highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, Modi in his blog, said Bharat has lost a Ratna.

The mortal remains of former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam reached Rameswaram- his <g data-gr-id="22">birth place</g>, on Wednesday afternoon. From Delhi, his body was carried to Madurai in a special aircraft where it was received by Tamil Nadu Governor K <g data-gr-id="23">Rosiah</g> and Chief Secretary Gnanadesikan. Central ministers Manohar Parrikkar, Venkiah Naidu and Pon Radha Krishnan and many others paid their respects there. 

Later, it was brought to the Mandapam Camp in Rameswaram by helicopter at 1:50 pm, where the Ramnad District Collector K Nandakumar and Superintendent of Police N Mayilvahanan and Kalam’s family members received it.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said she would not attend the last rites of Kalam in Rameswaram owing to her health condition and has <g data-gr-id="21">deputed</g> seven cabinet colleagues to represent her and the state government at the funeral.