Former Prez Abdul Kalam’s nephew quits BJP over knowledge centre row

New Delhi: Upset over the NDA government's "failure" to convert late APJ Abdul Kalam's residence in New Delhi into a knowledge centre despite repeated requests, the former President's nephew has resigned from the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).

APJ Syed Haja Ibrahim, a member of the BJP since 2012, resigned as vice-president of the minority wing of Tamil Nadu unit of BJP and also the party's primary membership.

"It (setting up a knowledge centre) was the wish of not only the former President, but the entire nation. I am resigning my post as this centre has not been set up despite repeated requests. I am also resigning from the primary membership of BJP," he said.

Following his demise, Kalam's No 10 Rajaji Marg bungalow in Delhi was allotted to Union culture minister Mahesh Sharma, much to the chagrin of many people, considering the latter's controversial remarks wherein he had described the former President "a patriot despite being a Muslim."

"I don't think Aurangzeb was an ideal person. Only a source of inspiration can be inspirational. Aurangzeb Road has been named after such a great man who, despite being a Muslim, was a nationalist and a humanist, A P J Abdul Kalam. The road has been named after him," Sharma had said on September 18 this year.

(With inputs from agencies)