New Delhi, Aug 13: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Minority Front on Tuesday launched the “Dr Kalam Startup Award” here to honour the legacy of former President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
The award was launched from the BJP Headquarters here on the occasion of International Youth Day. This initiative is part of the broader “Kalam Ko Salam” campaign, which aims to recognise and celebrate the contributions of minority youth in the field of entrepreneurship.
The event was attended by prominent leaders including BJP’s National Organisation General Secretary B L Santosh, Union Minister of Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju, National General Secretary and Minority Front in-charge Dushyant Gautam, National Minority Commission Chairman Iqbal Singh Lalpura, and BJP Minority Front President Jamal Siddiqui, a statement issued here said, adding that Dr Kalam’s family was also present.
During the event, seven minority youth from Delhi-NCR, including four men and three women, were honoured with the “Dr Kalam Startup Award”.
Jamal Siddiqui, President of the BJP Minority Morcha, said this initiative was launched in memory of Dr Kalam on his death anniversary as per the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP National President JP Nadda. He said that 15,000 minority youth across the country nominated themselves for the award through social media platforms, with the award ceremonies being held in 14 states.
From Delhi-NCR, the awardees included Faisal Farooqui, Gaurav Jain, Uzma Nizam, Preeti, Irfan Malik, Arjun Singh Marwah, and Yumana Gulvez.
During the event, B L Santosh said the BJP is the only political party that consistently honours Dr Kalam’s memory, including celebrating his birth anniversary and now instituting an award in his name.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju spoke about the safety of minorities in India, countering narratives that suggest otherwise. He highlighted the importance of countering misinformation spread both domestically and internationally.
The event also saw addresses by Dushyant Kumar Gautam, who encouraged the youth to follow Dr Kalam’s example in contributing to the nation’s growth and Iqbal Singh Lalpura, who reiterated India’s status as a safe and inclusive country for minorities.
The “Kalam Ko Salam” campaign began on July 27, Dr Kalam’s 9th death anniversary, with various district-level programs organised under the leadership of Jamal Siddiqui, who paid tribute at Dr Kalam’s mazaar (graveyard) in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.
