Narendra Modi calls APJ Abdul Kalam after he was confirmed as prime minister

CHENNAI: Narendra Modi called APJ Abdul Kalam soon after he was confirmed as prime minister by Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday, according to an aide to the former president. Modi sought the “blessings” of Kalam, 82, the former president’s adviser Ponraj Vellaichamy said. This followed a letter of greetings on May 17 from Kalam after the Gujarat chief minister’s resounding electoral victory leading the Bharatiya Janata Party in the general election.

“Designated Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji called me over phone just now. I have congratulated him for being elected as the Prime Minister of India and wished him to lead the nation into a developed nation with sustainable development with peace and prosperity,” Kalam was quoted saying in a Facebook page.

Kalam, who was made president in 2002 when the National Democratic Alliance led by BJP’s Atal Behari Vajpayee was in power, emphasised the importance of job-creation and providing modern amenities in his conversation with Modi.

He suggested the creation of a “national smart waterways grid” to provide water all year round across the country.

“Narendra Modiji, has agreed with me that these missions are very important and told me that he (will) work for such development using good governance for attaining inclusive growth.”