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Strategies & Market Trends : India Coffee House -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JPR who wrote (12235)	6/14/2002 12:42:03 PM
From: ChinuSFO	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 12475

Story from a leading Pakistani daily DAWN. A Muslim President backed by the "allegedly" Hindu govt. of India. Also important to note that this man is the architect of India's nuclear program. Could we now expect to have a Hindu head up Pakistan? Congress backs Kalam's candidature NEW DELHI, June 13: The Congress party on Thursday threw its weight behind presidential candidate Abdul Kalam, the architect of India's ballistic missile programme, ensuring he will become India's next president. "The Congress party, after extensive consultations, has decided to support the candidature of Abdul Kalam for the highest office of president of India," Congress spokesman S. Jaipal Reddy told reporters in New Delhi. The incumbent, Kocheril Raman Narayanan, is due to complete his five-year term on July 24. India's ruling coalition, led by the BJP, named Kalam as a candidate on Monday after hectic negotiations between the government and the opposition failed to arrive at a consensus candidate. The Congress party's announcement ensures that Kalam will succeed Narayanan, though his candidature is opposed by India's Communist parties. India has a special electoral college that votes for the president, which includes members of state legislative assemblies and the lower house of parliament. Kalam is seen as a "politically correct choice" as he is a Muslim. "Missile Man" Kalam, who started his life selling newspapers, has worked in India's key defence and space centres for the past 43 years. He retired in November last year. From 1983 until his retirement, Kalam headed India's ambitious Integrated guided missile development programme to develop an array of weapons, including short, medium and ballistic missiles. Speaking to reporters in Chennai, an overwhelmed Kalam thanked the politicians for choosing him. "So many phone calls, e-mails and media reports are pouring in continuously from Monday onwards after the announcement of my candidature for the president of India," he said. "I am really overwhelmed." Kalam is serving as emeritus professor at Chennai's Anna Technology University. "Everywhere, both in Internet and in other media, I have been asked for a message. I was thinking what message I can give to the people of our country at this point of time," he said. "The post of president of India indeed reflects the integrated aspirations of the nation," Kalam said. "A famous Indian thought which is apt and reflects the mood of the nation - whatever happened has happened for the good; whatever is happening is happening for the good; whatever will happen will happen for the good." -AFP dawn.com