APJ Abdul Kalam was ordinary scientist; elected as President to get BJP Muslim vote bank, says Pakistani scientist

Disgraced Pakistani scientist and nuclear physicist AQ Khan has called former President APJ Abdul Kalam an ordinary scientist.

In a telephonic interview to BBC, Abdul Quadeer Khan, known for his contributions in Pakistan's atomic bomb project said, "Kalam was an ordinary scientist and I cannot recall any big inventions by him."

He further said that Kalam was a man who believed in simple living and was an ordinary scientist.

Khan also alleged that India developed its missile program with help from Russia.

Khan also said that Kalam was elected as the President in 2002 during the rule of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) so that it could get the Muslim vote bank of the country.

Meanwhile, mortal remains of Kalam, who passed away on Monday were today flown to his hometown Rameswaram from Delhi in a special aircraft, as people in the national capital bid an emotional adieu to the country's 'missile man'.

The funeral of the former President will be held in Rameswaram, his birth place in Tamil Nadu, on Thursday with full military honours.

A seven-day state mourning has been declared by the government in honour of Kalam.