President APJ Abdul Kalam is saying farewell in style, with a series of tea parties for everyone he encountered during the last five years.
Over the next few days, he will be entertaining one and all. On Friday, it was the media's turn
NEW DELHI: As he nears the end of his tenure, President APJ Abdul Kalam is saying farewell in style, with a series of tea parties for everyone he encountered during his five years in Rashtrapati Bhavan.
From MPs to his Rashtrapati Bhavan staff, from the media to ordinary people and children, Kalam is entertaining them all over the next few days before he finally shifts out of the majestic colonial building on Raisina Hill.
On Friday, it was the media's turn. He went around the refurbished Ashoka Hall, shaking hands with all the 400-odd journalists present and sharing tidbits of information and memories.
He told one correspondent that he was proud of three achievements. One was to make Rashtrapati Bhavan a ``People's Bhavan'' by throwing open its majestic doors to people from all walks of life.
The second was to spread and popularise his PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) concept. And the third was to get acceptability for his Vision 2020 for India.
To another he said that he is looking forward to travelling around the country after he leaves Rashtrapati Bhavan. ``I will stay in Delhi for ten days in a month. The rest of the time will be spent travelling,'' he disclosed.
To a third, he hinted at his distress over reports that he had sought a second term. He clarified that he had always maintained that he would accept another term only if there was consensus on his name. He said that he had never talked about numbers.
His vast library of books has already been moved out in preparation for the next occupant, although he himself will shift only on July 25 after his successor is sworn in.
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