Adding to the controversy surrounding the Abdul Kalam memorial in Rameswaram, the Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamath (TNTJ) declared that the former President cannot be considered a Muslim. The TNTJ further alleged that Kalam was only chosen to be President because he did not follow the tenets of Islam, and was an RSS man.
P Jainulabdeen, founder of the TNTJ, who was addressing a public gathering at Salem as part of a six month programme to spread the teachings of Prophet Mohammed, made several disparaging comments about the former President. This comes after his grand nephew attempted to place the Quran and Bible near a statue that showed Kalam playing the Veena near a copy of the Bhagavad Gita.
"His name maybe Abdul Kalam, but that doesn't make him Muslim. He who only worships Allah is a Muslim. But Abdul Kalam prayed to idols and he bowed before naked godmen," said Jainulabdeen.
"How can someone like this be considered a Muslim or even a scientist in the first place? It is a shame," he declared.
The TNTJ founder further claimed that Kalam, who was just one amongst the scientists who worked on the Agni missile, was chosen to be President because he did not live as a 'Muslim.'
"When they saw how he lived, Vajpayee and RSS decided he would be the right man to become President. Abdul Kalam was an RSS man without membership," he alleged.
Jainulabdeen warned that protests would have been held if a Quran was placed near the statue.
"You put ash on his head or even a poonal. We don't care. He never spoke about the atrocities against Muslims in society. He is someone who changed religion without changing his name. Why should we question what happens to him? It is correct to place a Bhagavad Gita in front of him," he concluded.