UPA-Left presidential candidate Pratibha Patil on Sunday rubbished all the allegations levelled against her during the run up to the presidential poll.
PANAJI: Finishing the first leg of her campaigning, UPA-Left presidential candidate Pratibha Patil on Sunday rubbished all the allegations levelled against her during the run up to the presidential poll.
"In my 45-year-long public life, I had to face many challenges but I have continued to work ceaselessly, towards rural development, women empowerment and education," Patil said interacting with the legislators and MPs of ruling Congress-led alliance in Goa, this afternoon.
"Inspite of all attempts to tarnish my image with baseless charges, I remain steadfast in my commitment to my fellow citizens and my country in the highest and the most noble tradition of our democracy. I will continue to serve the nation with humility, and with deep sense of duty," Patil said during her 15-minute-long interaction in the state.
Goa Chief Minister Digamber Kamat along with Congress,Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Maharashtrawadi Gomanta Party (MGP) legislators attended the interaction. The Save Goa Front (SGP), which has extended support to UPA candidate, however did not attend the meeting.
"The allegations against the UPA-Left candidate are levelled by frustrated group of people. The charges are levelled by the people, who are not familiar with the cooperative sector," Union Minister Prithviraj Chavan, who accompanied Patil to her Goa visit, stated.
He said that Patil had a very successful first leg tour and will try to cover few more states in next two days.
All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Margaret Alva and B K Hariprasad along with AICC observer Govindrao Adik were also present at the meeting.
Reacting to United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) decision to abstain from voting, Chavan hoped that better sense would prevail upon them.
Earlier interacting with the Goan legislators and MPs, Patil opined that India's growth should be all inclusive, and that all the sections of society should share the benefits of growth.
"The rapid economic growth witnessed recently gives us a hope that for the first time, we have a real chance of eliminating hunger, ignorance and disease in our lifetime," she said.
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