By IANS,
Bangalore: Voting is a must in a democracy, says former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam who Thursday voted despite his busy schedule, shuttling from one corner of the country to another giving lectures and attending conferences.
“Sorry for the delay in coming late by an hour. I am coming from New Delhi. I voted at New Delhi constituency. My vote was in that constituency,” Kalam told the people gathered for a function at software major Wipro’s campus here.
“Thereafter, my flight got delayed by an hour,” he smiled.
“Voting in democracy is a must. Voting is our right to choose our leaders. Instead of complaining about the country’s ills, we should participate in the democratic process and choose the best leader,” said Kalam.
On low voter turnout during the first three phases of the staggered Lok Sabha polls, Kalam said people complain that they had no choice.
“One 19-year-old girl told me that she was very excited to vote for the first time. But, she also expressed her apprehensions about whom to vote. But I think we have some good educated people who have contested the elections,” said the 77-year-old who won the Bharat Ratna for his pioneering work in the field of science and missile technology.
“Thus, all should vote,” he stressed.
Asked if he would like to take a plunge into politics, Kalam said good many people were already in politics.