M A I N   N E W S

Let us make India safe, says Kalam
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 14
President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam today reminded citizens that future generations would remember them not for adding churches, mosques, temples and gurdwaras but for giving them “a prosperous and safe India resulting out of economic prosperity, coupled with our civilisational heritage”.

In his Address to the Nation on the eve of the 57th Independence Day, the President gave a detailed programme of action for transforming India into a developed nation.

“The GDP has to grow annually by 8 to 10 per cent”, Dr Kalam said, adding that for achieving this “the core competencies” had to be built.

The President said there was a need to evolve and develop specific integrated missions sector-wise to take the country forward on the path of self-sustaining development.

Discussing five missions, namely networking of rivers, availability of quality power at an affordable price, providing urban amenities in rural areas, promotion of selective self-reliance in information and communication technology and focusing on sustainable tourism, the President also asked “key societal members” — father, mother and the teacher — to launch a movement from home and school to eradicate corruption.

In an indirect reference to Pakistan, Dr Kalam decried the use of people as “war tools” and said divisive forces used terrorism as a tool in the name of ethnic groupism, religious fundamentalism and sometimes political ambitions as a rationale for terrorism leading to conflicts among nations. 

Kalam pays homage to soldiers
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 14
True to his image, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who is also the supreme commander of the armed forces, today set a new tradition by paying homage to soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the nation in various wars on the eve of Independence Day.

Dr Kalam became the first President to lay a wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate here at a ceremonial function.

Traditionally, it is the Prime Minister who lays the wreath at the memorial on Republic Day.

Dr Kalam was escorted by Defence Minister George Fernandes and service chiefs, Admiral Madhvendra Singh, Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswami and Gen N.C. Vij.