The Hindu : National : Committed to people, says Pratibha Patil

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Committed to people, says Pratibha Patil

Special Correspondent

— Photo: Sushanta Patronobish

Solid support: West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee with the Presidential candidate, Pratibha Patil, in Kolkata on Friday.

Kolkata: The Presidential election will be a significant moment in the history of India’s democracy, United Progressive Alliance presidential candidate Pratibha Patil said, while addressing West Bengal MLAs at the State Legislature here on Friday.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said he was sure that all members would vote for Ms. Patil. He said that the Left had always favoured a political personality with secular credentials. “We cannot vote for an RSS candidate,” he said.

Mr. Bhattacharjee’s views were echoed by Dr. Manas Bhunia, his political opponent on the floor of the house and the leader of the Congress Legislature Party. He said that West Bengal stood for secularism and not a single vote should go against “their candidate.”

Ms. Patil’s visit to the state legislature took place in the backdrop of a walkout by the Trinamool Congress, which also staged a sit-in demonstration in the lobby protesting what they described as the remorseless attitude of the Chief Minister over the Singur and Nandigram issue.

Describing her nomination as the candidate of the UPA , the Left and other supporting parties as a unique privilege, Ms. Patil said “Sixty years after our Independence India will have a woman president.”

She said that despite attempts to tarnish her image with baseless charges, she would remain committed to the people.

Continuing work

She said that during her 45-year long public-life she has faced many challenges through which she continued her work for rural development, spread of education and women empowerment.

Ms. Patil also said that the strong economic growth raised hopes to eliminate hunger, ignorance and disease.

Economic growth

She stressed that economic growth must be all inclusive with all sections of society — the poor, the disadvantaged, the dalits, tribals, minorities, backward sections, youth and women — sharing the benefits of growth.

Ms. Patil was accompanied by Union Ministers Santosh Mohan Dev and Prithiraj Chavan, AICC general secretary Margaret Alva and AICC spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan among others.

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