Level-headed Pakistanis sorrowed by the prospect of Mr. Abdul Kalam
becoming the next President of India

M.B. Naqvi
Karachi June 15:

It may be odd, even irrational, but many level-headed Pakistanis have
taken note of and have been sorrowed by the prospect of Mr. Abdul
Kalam will be the next President of India. B.M. Kutty, a leader of
the National Workers Party, has expressed disappointment over the
Congress President Sonia Gandhi's decision to endorse the BJP's
choice for India's Presidency.

Kutty, who is the Information Secretary of his party, said that Mrs.
Gandhi 'has in fact twice opted for the BJP line'. He recalled that
way back in 1996, 'she was instrumental in scuttling the Third Force
and paving the way for Mr. A.B. Vajpayee forming the government'.
This time too, she has chosen a BJP nominee over all others. He
rejected the notion that since Kalam is a Muslim, it will be
politically correct to elect him President of India.

He and several other NGO intellectuals among them Karamat Ali, Shahid
Fayaz and Rahat Saeed, said that a non-executive President of a
democratic Republic is meant to symbolise the nation's ethos and
ideals; he is chosen for the contribution he has made to the life and
letters. His accomplishments are honoured and meant to be underlined
for other's inspiration. In this case, Karamat Ali asked does India
want to honour and promote militarism by making the maker of Prithivi
and Agni missiles occupy Chair on which Raja Gopalacharya, Radha
Krishnan and Zakir Hussain sat.