RAMESWARAM: APJ Mohammad Muthu Meeran Labbai Maricar, elder brother of the late President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam hoisting the National flag at the memorial for the latter at Peikarumbu here on Friday, was the highlight of the Republic Day celebrations in Rameswaram.
Mr Maricar then distributed sweets to the people who had gathered at the National memorial for Dr Abdul Kalam, and greeted the people on the occasion, even as special prayers were recited at the venue for global peace.
Mr Maricar said he felt truly honouerd to celebrate Republic Day at the memorial of his younger brother and ‘People’s President,’ in this fashion.
He recalled when Dr Kalam was elected to the Constitutional high office in 2002, since then the national flag would be hoisted at their home in Rameswaram every Independence Day and on every Republic Day. Mr Maricar continued that tradition today also by first hoisting the Indian flag at their home before going to the Kalam memorial.
Meanwhile, a group of Shiv Sena volunteers got into the sea at Agnitheertham shore here and staged a protest, demanding protection for Tamil Nadu fishermen, frequently under attack from the Sri Lankan Navy, and urging that ‘Katchatheevu’ islet ceded to Sri Lanka “on a friendly platter” be taken back by India, “in the livelihood interests of our fishermen” so that the Indian flag could also be hoisted there on such occasions.
