CHENNAI: Just a week after former President APJ Abdul Kalam 's death, a tussle has broken out between his aides and a long-time associate who has co-authored books with him, primarily on handling his official accounts on social networking sites. Kalam's office in New Delhi on Wednesday issued a statement saying Srijan Pal Singh , who was privately associated with Kalam in his academic pursuits, should not give statements in the media and social networks in the name of the former President. "Srijan Pal Singh has already been advised to deactivate all Facebook and Twitter accounts in the name of Dr Kalam or in his memory immediately," the statement said.

Sources say Kalam's official aides are unhappy with the attention Singh, who has co-authored two books with the missile scientist , has been getting after his account of Kalam's last hours received wide media attention. The tribute titled "Last Eight Hours with Kalam" went viral on social media immediately after it was posted by Singh following the demise of Kalam on July 27.

"The office is not against Singh sharing his experience as a student with Kalam. He has every right to do that. At the same time, he has no right to share things through Kalam's official pages in social networking sites. There is an office to take care of it," said V Ponraj, who was scientific adviser to Kalam for two decades.

However, talking to TOI, Singh said he only shared his personal experience with Kalam. "When he (Kalam) was alive, he authorized me to maintain his pages in social networking sites. I was happy to do that. If the office doesn't want me to do it, I am ready to deactivate them. But they can't ban me from sharing my experience with him to the people. He was my guru and mentor," said Singh, who was in Chennai to attend a function to pay tribute to Kalam.

"I co-authored two books with Kalam. We were working on the third one when he died. Kalam was everything to me. I am only talking about my experience with him on my personal capacity. As a private citizen, I think I have every right to do that. No one can stop me," he said.

READ ALSO: Kalam's unfinished lecture to appear in new book

Kalam, in his capacity as a rocket scientist and a former President, was given an office with five staff members by the government. Apart from the official staff, there were many who worked with Kalam voluntarily, helping him in his various activities.

Ponraj said Kalam's office does not have any ulterior motive behind restraining Singh. "He (Singh) was a good student of Kalam. He should share his experience with students and spread Kalam's ideas to the youth. I have worked with Kalam for 20 years, and my job today is to spread his ideas and vision. We have to follow certain rules and should know what to speak and what not," he said.

Asked whether the office was unhappy mainly because he was getting publicity after he posted his tribute, Singh said: "It's unfortunate. This is not the right time to comment on anything because I am at a loss," he said.