India was forced to go nuclear and develop ballistic missiles to strike a balance of power in the region as "big nations" around the country were armed with atomic weapons, former President A P J Abdul Kalam said on Thursday.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his team, including a powerful former bureaucrat in New Delhi, have failed in their efforts to persuade former president A P J Abdul Kalam to continue as visitor of the upcoming Nalanda International University in the state.
'The fact that she kept her faith in the power of doing good all through the thick and thin in her life, that she worked sincerely for the upliftment of the tribals, the downtrodden and the backwards, is one of the most inspirational aspects of her life.'
Investigators probing the minor blast near the Israeli embassy have not come across "anything concrete" yet as most of the CCTV cameras near the site of the explosion were "non-functional"
Parrikar said while the Centre wanted five acres of land for the memorial, as of now only 1.8 acres was available.
Former President APJ Abdul Kalam's letter, which he sent to Foreign Minister S M Krishna in last July, has now come into public domain, slamming Nobel Laureate economist Amartya Sen for forcing him out of his brainchild project of the Nalanda University in Bihar as its first visitor.
With A P J Abdul Kalam deciding not to join the Presidential race, the Bharatiya Janata Party core group met in New Delhi on Monday night to discuss its strategy including support to P A Sangma and reluctance of allies like the Janata Dal-United to go for a contest against United Progressive Alliance nominee Pranab Mukherjee.
With A P J Abdul Kalam deciding not to contest the Presidential poll, BJP appeared set to back P A Sangma's candidature and convince its dithering NDA allies like Janata Dal (United) and Shiv Sena to fall in line and give up plans of a consensus on Pranab Mukherjee.
The BJP is a divided house on whether to oppose Pranab Mukherjee or not. Mamata Banerjee has been totally isolated and only the Congress seems to be on a strong wicket, says Neerja Chowdhury.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday came out in support of the candidature of A P J Abdul Kalam in the Presidential poll, saying he is apolitical and that it will be good if he is elected.
Taking up the campaign for APJ Abdul Kalam online, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said her choice of the Presidential candidate was the choice of millions of Indians.
The Bharatiya Janata Party -led National Democratic Alliance on Friday indicated that it will try to mobilise support of non-Congress parties for A P J Abdul Kalam, whose name has been floated by SP and Trinamool Congress.
Ahead of the crucial National Democratic Alliance meeting, Janata Dal (United) chief Sharad Yadav on Friday made it clear that his party will not be proposing the name of any candidate for the Presidential poll and said it will go with the collective choice on the issue.
"Many political leaders have contacted and want me to become the President of India. I appreciate this idea, I respect their views. I will take proper decision at the right time," APJ Abdul Kalam told reporters in Bihta, Bihar
A P J Abdul Kalam, whose name has been floated by Samajwadi Party and Trinamool Congress as the Presidential candidate, has decided to adopt a wait and watch approach on the issue, which has generated a lot of political heat. Sources close to the former President said today that he was adopting a "wait and watch" approach on the issue. Kalam has maintained he would agree to enter the fray only if there is consensus on his name.
Apart from khaman, the VVIPs from the US and their delegation will be offered broccoli and corn samosa, apple pie, kaju katli and a variety of teas to choose from, said chef Suresh Khanna of Ahmedabad's Fortune Landmark Hotel.
Former President APJ Abdul Kalam is likely to be the Election Commission of India's brand ambassador in a bid to increase voter turnout in the coming assembly polls in Bihar. Official sources in the state election commission told rediff.com that they has recommended Kalam as brand ambassador.
'No actor knew him as well as I did.'
In an interview with CNN-IBN, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee seemed reluctant to embrace Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee as her party's choice for the post of the President of India.
India and the United States are planning to hold talks on appropriate mechanisms for security screening of dignitaries in the backdrop of frisking of A P J Abdul Kalam at a New York airport with Washington informing New Delhi that the former President was not exempted from security checks.
Former President A P J Abdul Kalam was twice subjected to frisking at New York's JFK Airport by US security officials who even took his jacket and shoes to check for explosives, sparking outrage by India which threatened retaliatory action against US dignitaries.
Dr Kalam assures the protestors and the country that the technology used in the Koodankulam nuclear project is the best in the world, and tries to allay the fears of the villagers over its safety arrangements, reports A Ganesh Nadar.
Giving a thumbs up to the Koodankulam nuclear power project, former President A P J Abdul Kalam on Sunday said he is "fully satisfied" with the safety measures incorporated in the mega power project.
Dr Kalam is on a five-day visit to France and Greece.
While calling for interventions to improve, among other things, the industrial training institutes, Kalam also underscored the need to understand the perspective of the targeted beneficiaries.
Amid a raging debate on steps to check corruption, former President APJ Abdul Kalam on Tuesday said if children dared to question parents about their source of income and refused to travel by vehicles acquired through corrupt means, India would gradually become a corruption-free country in short time.
The President met the local tribal people and interacted with them.
Farmers in Paliganj are 'immensely contributing' towards optimising foodgrain productivity, former President A P J Abdul Kalam said on Tuesday.
Indira Gandhi valued Rahul Gandhi's 'grit and determination' and often considered him mature enough to be taken into confidence on subjects she avoided discussing even with his parents when he was barely 14, according to a new book.
Kickstarting his party's 'Mission 2022' with a 'rath yatra,' Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party, saying it has 'crushed farmers' and on return to power in Uttar Pradesh would 'crush the Constitution' as well.
Nirmohi Akhara, the main plaintiff in the Ayodhya title suit, wants the mediation of former President APJ Abdul Kalam, Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoban and the national organisation of Muslim ulemas-- Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind -- along with Hindu religious leaders like Baba Ramdev, Shri Shri Ravi Shankar and Murari Bapu.
Lula arrived in India with a large business delegation to forge closer "strategic" and trade ties between the two emerging powerhouses.
Former President A P J Abdul Kalam said the Pokhran tests of 1998 were successful as desired yield was obtained. Kalam was reacting to former senior Defence Research and Development Organisation scientist K Santhanam's contention that Pokhran-II tests had not met the desired objective.
Abdul Kalam, probably India's most popular president yet, turns 72.
A brief class by his teacher on the Rameswaram seashore on how birds fly and the locomotive force behind their flight gave former President A P J Abdul Kalam his aim in life and helped him in understanding physics better.
The filmmaker will be honoured on February 2.
80-year-old Kalam was twice frisked at the JFK Airport by security officials who even took off his jacket and shoes to check for explosives before he was to board an Air India flight on September 29.
Former President and renowned scientist A P J Abdul Kalam on Tuesday complimented Indian Space Research Organisation for the successful launch of Mars orbiter.
Mitticool, a clay refrigerator that works without electricity had turned the world's attention to its creator Mansukhbhai Prajapati, a craftsman based in Gujarat.
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