The Hindu : Front Page : I don’t want to become party to political process: Kalam

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Sunday, Jun 24, 2007
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I don’t want to become party to political process: Kalam

New Delhi: “Enough is enough,” President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said on Saturday, explaining his decision not to run for a second term and making it clear that he did not want to “damage” the name of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

He did not want to become a party to a political process, nor did he want the Rashtrapati Bhavan to get “degenerated,” Mr. Kalam said during a 40-minute interaction with PTI journalists here, a day after announcing that he would not be a candidate in the race.

“In five years time in Rashtrapati Bhavan, we have all worked for transforming it into a people’s Bhavan. Rashtrapati Bhavan has become a people’s Bhavan today. I believe it should be an example to the nation,” he said.

“That is why I said enough is enough.”

Explaining his rationale, Mr. Kalam said if a President was interested in seeking a second term he would have to “propagate” as a candidate.

“It is not a political process when we elect a President. I do not want to become a party to a political process. I do not want to damage the name of Rashtrapati Bhavan, which has been made a people’s Bhavan during my tenure,” he said.

Asked about suggestions that non-political persons should occupy the post of President, Mr. Kalam said, “The President should be a good human being so that he or she will enrich the Rashtrapati Bhavan.”

How would he like to be remembered?

“As a people’s President.”

Mr. Kalam, who demits office on July 24, said half a million to one million people visited the Rashtrapati Bhavan every year. “Not only big guns, small guns also. I don’t want to convert the Rashtrapati Bhavan into a political Bhavan.”

He parried a question what he expected his successor to bring to the Rashtrapati Bhavan: “I believe that any President who comes, he [after a pause] or she will bring the core competence and make Rashtrapati Bhavan enriched.”

Asked about the most difficult decision he had to take in office, the 76-year-old President referred to the Office of Profit Bill, which he returned to Parliament. — PTI

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