UPA Presidential nominee Pratibha Patil on Sunday said she is committed to stand by the virtues attached to the post of the President even as attempts are being made to mar her image.
Speaking at a function organised to galvanise support from the Congress MPs and MLAs at the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Sunday, Ms Patil succinctly hinted at the campaign and allegations made by the BJP against her but refrained from openly challenging them or speaking out against the smear campaign by the BJP.
She said she was aware of the significance and responsibility attached to the post for which she was contesting.
Ms Patil said the election was not hers but an election of the common man and her victory would be the victory of the common man in turn.
“The 2007 Presidential elections are very significant. I am happy that the coalition partner is nominating me for the post and I’ll be glad if you help this sister of yours win,” Ms Patil said.
Ms Patil said secularism is imbibed in the Constitution of the country. “Our nation is young and we are all working to strengthen it and economic development is being done in a way so as to encompass all sections of the society including the poor, the socially and economically backward and women,” she said.
The speech was made in the presence of Union ministers Shakarsinh Vaghela, Dinsha Patel and other Congress MPs and MLAs.
Source of inspiration
Ms Pratibha Patil who earlier paid tributes to the statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, and had visited the Gandhi Ashram said she had visited the Ashram in the past too and the Mahatma had always been the source of inspiration for her.
Leader of the Opposition in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly Arjun Modhwadia told the media that the Congress gave the country its first woman prime minister and woman party president. He said the party is now pitching for the first woman President of the country.
Mr Modhwadia sharply criticised the hate campaign against a woman candidate and said the campaign was for equality and everybody should vote for Ms Patil.
GPCC president Bharatsinh Solanki said the election of Ms Patil as the President of the country should have been unanimous.