Rolling out the red carpet

APJ Sheikh Salim, grand nephew of former president APJ Abdul Kalam, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday. Salim, 34, emerged as the spokesperson of the Kalam family after the former president passed away in July. Along with the rest of the family, he had insisted that Kalam's final rites be performed in his hometown, Rameswaram, not in New Delhi, as originally proposed since Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior Cabinet ministers were expected to attend. Salim had also issued a statement thanking BJP MP Maheish Girri for initiating the process to rename Aurangzeb Road in Lutyens Delhi as APJ Abdul Kalam Road. Salim's understanding of 'political' issues no doubt impressed the BJP leadership. That BJP President Amit Shah was present to welcome Salim, grandson of Kalam's eldest brother, to the party indicated the importance it attached to his induction.