Among those who arrived were a group of children with red roses. Earlier in the day the body of the former President was received at Palam Airport by President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the three service chief and the 95-year-old Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh.
The funeral of the former President will take place on Thursday at his native place in Rameswaram at 11 am with full military honours. The government has announced a seven-day mourning in memory of the former resident of Rashtrapati Bhawan, who passed away while delivering a lecture at Indian Institute of Management, Shillong on Monday.
Earlier in the day, the mortal remains of Kalam were carried in a military <g data-gr-id="40">gun-carriage</g> from Palam to Rajaji Marg. Citizens and school <g data-gr-id="52">children,</g> lined up to pay their last respects to the scientist who remained President between 2002 and 2007.
President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the three Service Chiefs of the Armed Forces visited Dr Kalam’s residence and laid wreaths. Later the doors of the house were thrown open to common people.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also paid his respects to Dr Kalam among others. The body of Bharat Ratna APJ Abdul Kalam was brought in a special casket wrapped in Tricolor on a special Indian Air Force aircraft. Meghalaya governor V Shanmughanathan accompanied the body. A guard of honour was given to former President by the three services at the airport.
In a resolution passed at a special Cabinet Meeting on Tuesday, it was said that in Dr Kalam’s passing away the country had lost a visionary scientist, a true nationalist and a great son. The Cabinet met under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and extended its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family on behalf of the Government and the entire nation.
The resolution <g data-gr-id="53">said,</g> Dr Kalam was passionate about transforming society through technology, in particular by inspiring the youth of India to harness science and technology for human welfare. It also said, during his tenure, he was affectionately known as the People’s President.
The Congress also expressed grief over the demise of former President. Talking to reporters, party Vice President Rahul Gandhi said, Dr Kalam was the People’s President who had the ability to connect with the country’s youth.
Both Houses paid glowing tributes to the former President. The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned as a mark of respect. Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said there will be no sitting to enable members to attend Dr Abul Kalam’s funeral at Rameshwaram.