Abdul Kalam’s look-alike is one of those waiting for Modi’s visit

Lucknow: A look-alike of late President , Abdul Kalam , who follows his ideals and providing education to slum children from his small pension, is one of persons who is waiting to meet Prime Minister, Narendra Modi , when he comes here on Tuesday to burn the effigy of demon king ,Ravan.

Modi is making a departure from the past and unlike his predecessors not burning the effigy in Delhi and this provides him an opportunity to meet him along with the group of 35 children he is taking care of.

The duplicate , named Govind Rustogi, lives in old Haiderganj area of the Nawabi city and has formed a group named “ Kalam Sena”. A selfie with Modi is the only wish of the group. For the fulfilment of the wish he has been visiting the ground where the effigy of Ravan has been erected frequently and meeting the authorities who could help him . So far, however, there is no confirmation of his meeting.

His visit to the ground always draws a curious crowd because his look is much similar to that of late President.

Modi may or may not oblige but the late constitutional head of the country had. Rustogi claims that he had met him for only two minutes in 2002 when he had come to address a meeting in Rudai village in the state. He was so impressed that he asked him to come to Delhi where he talked to him for quite sometime. His Delhi visit materialised in 2004.

Rustogi also claims that he was offered a transport to visit different parts of the country to spread the message of education among children who were either not going to school or had opted out. The offer was politely declined but not the advice. Soon he set up a school which was joined by 125 children. Thirty five of them are members of his Kalam Sena who would be trained for the defence job. The school is providing education up to eighth standard.