Presidency of A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Presidency of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
25 July 2002 – 25 July 2007
PartyIndependent
Election2002 Indian presidential election
SeatRashtrapati Bhawan

Emblem of India

Presidency of A. P. J. Abdul Kalam was started from 25 July 2002 when Abdul Kalam took oath as the eleventh President of India.[1]

Domestic affairs

Gujarat tour

In 2002, soon after assuming office, the President announced his decision to visit the state of Gujarat, which had been struck by an earthquake as well as deadly riots.[2] In his book Turning Points, Kalam wrote that he undertook the visit despite Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's objections.[citation needed]

Return of bill

In 2006, Kalam became the first President to return a bill, when he returned the Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Amendment Bill, 2006 bill to parliament for reconsideration.[3][4]

Mercy petitions

Kalam opposed capital punishment, and sent back nearly 50 cases of capital punishment for reconsideration, listing out reasons why clemency should be considered in each case.[5]

He commuted one death sentence, and rejected only one mercy petition (that of Dhananjoy Chatterjee, who was executed in 2004).[6]

Foreign affairs

List of state visits

The President Dr. A.P. J. Abdul Kalam and the President of Switzerland Samuel Schmid meeting the Swiss nationals gathered alongside the sidewalks of city of Berne to greet them, at Berne in Switzerland on 27 May 2005
Year Country Date Note Ref
2003 United Arab Emirates [7]
Sudan [7]
Bulgaria [7]
2005 Switzerland [8]
Iceland
2006 Philippines February
South Korea
Myanmar [9]
Mauritius [9]
2007 France [10]
Greece [10]

References

  1. ^ "Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam: Former President of India". abdulkalam.nic.in. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Kalam to visit Gujarat on August 12". The Times of India. 9 August 2002. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  3. ^ "A rare return". frontline.thehindu.com. 29 June 2006. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Prez Kalam returns Office of Profit bill". The Economic Times. 31 May 2006. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  5. ^ "APJ Abdul Kalam: The man who opposed death penalty". Hindustan Times. 27 July 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Kalam rejects murderer's plea". www.business-standard.com. 5 August 2004. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  7. ^ a b c "Kalam leaves on first foreign tour". The Times of India. 18 October 2003. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  8. ^ swissinfo.ch (27 July 2016). "Kalam, not Modi, was the real rock star". SWI swissinfo.ch. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Kalam returns home after two-nation tour". The Times of India. 14 March 2006. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Kalam to address European Parliament". The Times of India. 24 April 2007. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 3 June 2023.