Kerala assembly pays tribute to Kalam

Kerala legislators on Tuesday paid tribute to late president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam exactly 10 years after he had addressed the state assembly.

Exactly 10 years ago on this very day he was speaking to all of us, assembly speaker N. Sakthan said, adding: "He enlightened all of us then and before he left the premises he planted a sapling. It's standing in all glory here."

Kalam, who was India's president from 2002 to 2007, died in Shillong on Monday.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said: "He did perfect homework and gave a beautiful presentation, telling us what we should strive to achieve. The assembly discussed his directions and a resolution was passed."

"Even after stepping down as president, he travelled the length and breadth of the country giving lectures. He is perhaps one person who travelled in a way which none of his predecessors did. He was simply a great man," Chandy said.

Leader of opposition V.S. Achuthanandan said it was Kalam who brought the Rashtrapati Bhavan closer to the people of the country.

"His commitment as a scientist and his humility made him a person who was always liked by all," Achuthanandan said.

As a mark of respect to the departed soul, the house wound up the day's proceedings after leaders of all the political parties paid their tributes to Kalam.