Ex-President Abdul Kalam photo in Modi banner sparks row

Mangalore Today News Network

Karkala, Nov 10, 2013: Is Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, the former President of India a  Narendra Modi loyalist? Such a question has now arisen. The question is raised by  HK Sridhar Shetty, a human rights activist of Hebri after noticing   banners, cut-outs  seeking support for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the prime ministerial candidate of the BJP.

Already such banners can be seen in various parts of the district and state. Apart from the picture of Narendra Modi, the cutouts also have the  portraits of former President Abdul Kalam, former prime minister Vajpayee and Swami Vivekananda.

“The President of India as well as  former Presidents  cannot be affiliated to any party. But the cut-outs have now  raised the question as to whether the BJP considers Kalam as its property. No political party has  used the portraits of  former presidents for political purposes,” Shetty said “How  justifiable is it on the part of BJP to use the portrait of Kalam in the Modi banner,? He has further questioned.