Bhagwad Gita near Abdul Kalam's statue kicks up controversy

Hindu Makkal Katchi leader K Prabhakaran filed a police complaint claiming that the two holy books (of Quran and Bible) were placed without permission from authorities.

A controversy has erupted due to an engraved 'Bhagavad Gita' near the statue of late president A P J Abdul Kalam. The family quickly sought to end the row by placing a copy of the Quran and Bible near the statue.

However, in latest development, leader of a local Hindu outfit objected to the placing of Quran and Bible near the statue on the ground that "no permission was taken" for the same.

Hours later, officials manning the memorial, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 27, kept the Bible and Quran in a glass box in the vicinity of the statue.

Hindu Makkal Katchi leader K Prabhakaran filed a police complaint claiming that the two holy books (of Quran and Bible) were placed without permission from authorities. "I respect all these books. But keeping them (in the memorial) without permission is wrong.

Steps should be taken to see that such things are not done again," he told reporters. Vaiko-led MDMK and the PMK have raised questions on the need for keeping the engraved 'Bhagavad Gita' alongside the wooden statue of Kalam playing the musical instrument 'veena' in the Rs 15 crore memorial, designed and built by the Defence Research and Development Agency with which Kalam was associated for a long time.

The memorial at Peikarambu, inaugurated on the second death anniversary of the popular scientist at his home town here, also has on display a replica of rockets and missiles on which the late scientist had worked.

OneIndia News