Place Kural near Kalam’s statue: NTK

However, the issue took a U-turn in the afternoon when Hindu Makkal Katchi (HMK) cadre staged a protest outside the memorial and demanded the removal of the Bible and the Quran. Prabakar, district president, HMK, said that Kalam and his family has no role in building the memorial and questioned the act of Saleem’s placing the holy texts near the statue. The police asked the protesting members to file a complaint against Saleem and disperse from the spot. A complaint was lodged against Saleem at Thangachimadam police station. Further investigation is on.

However, Seeman, who visited Madurai, appreciated Kalam’s grandson Saleem for placing the Bible and the Quran next to the Bhagavad Gita. He said that it should have been done earlier. “Tirukkural must also be placed along with the books as it was an all time favourite of Kalam,” he said.

Seeman accused the BJP of trying to saffronise Kalam by placing a Veena and Bhagavad Gita in the memorial. He also welcomed the lifting of ban on the LTTE by the European Union and said that India too should lift the ban, which would be great relief to the families affected by the ethnic war in Sri Lanka.