Parliament pays respect to Kalam, adjourned for two days

Parliament adjourned for two days on Tuesday as a mark of respect to former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who died in Meghalaya on Monday.

When the Lok Sabha met in the morning, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan read out a condolence message in which she said Kalam was a "real gem" of the country and a "sagacious statesman".

The members then stood in silence for some time to pay their respects to the former president, following which the speaker adjourned the house for two days.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda were among those present.

The Rajya Sabha was also adjourned for two days.

Initially, when it met, Chairman Mohammad Hamid Ansari adjourned the upper house for only Tuesday, but at a meeting held later, it was decided to adjourn the house on July 29 also.

"In a meeting of the leaders of all parties with the chairman, it was decided that there will be no sitting on Wednesday to enable the members to attend the funeral of former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam," an official release said.

Ansari said in the house: "The country has lost a true son. His contributions to the nation as a man of technology, a teacher and a leader will be deeply cherished by a grateful nation."

He said Kalam was a guide to India's space and missile programmes and his efforts saw India become a front-ranking power in these spheres. His death is an irreparable loss to the country.

Both houses will now hold their next sittings on July 30. - IANS