Kalam recalls association with Rajasthan

Jaipur, Mar 30 (UNI) The week-long Rajasthan day celebrations concluded here today amid fanfare with President A P J Abdul Kalam describing the state as a ''theatre of action'' during the nuclear tests in Pokhran.

The President was received by Rajasthan Governor Pratibha Patil, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Speaker Sumitra Singh at the Janpath.

The programme started with an acrobatic display by the Rajasthan police followed by tableau presentations from the six divisional headquarters and presentation by the army band.

The President, on the 56th foundation day of the state, said, '' This place was the theatre of action for me and our team and to the scientists and technologists from the department of Atomic Energy. In this place, we were working continuously during days and nights for months, particularly in the month of May, when noon temperature was over 53 degrees Celsius.

''But we never felt the summer heat because we were on an important national mission. When the mission was completed on May 11 and May 13, 1998, the nation got transformed into a nuclear weapon state.'' UNI