Kalam hails Manjunath

Hailing the murdered Indian Oil Corporation official S Manjunath as a "righteous" man, President A P J Abdul Kalam Tuesday said honest citizens of the country would be protected.

"I have great respect for you. Whatever we have discussed is only to see that honest citizens have to be protected in all accounts," he said at the 'India Empowered Summit' organised by The Indian Express Group where he came face-to-face with Manjunath's parents, who was allegedly murdered by a petrol pump owner in Uttar Pradesh last month.

"Honest citizens will be protected and definitely it will be done because of your son's sacrifice," he said in an interactive session in New Delhi.

Asserting that a great society is interwoven by fast responsive elected government and righteous citizens, Kalam said, "Young Manjunath was a righteous boy, who has come from a righteous family."

As an overwhelmed mother of Manjunath asked Kalam of his plans to ensure that no innocent is killed for doing his duty, the President said such incidents "should not happen".

In response to a similar query, he said, "We should not let our problems become our master" and should be ready to take on newer challenges. Referring to Manjunath's parents, Kalam said, "the father and mother are responsible for his righteousness. Now that means one example that a family can create a righteous citizen.

"My whole talk is a tribute to heroic and righteous minds," he said.