Highlights: Pranab's final message as Finance Minister

New Delhi: Pranab Mukherjee, the UPA's candidate for the post of President of India, resigned as Finance Minister today.

Here are the highlights of what he said at a presser:

• Friends in the media, I know you have many questions to ask me. But today is not the day to open a new dialogue so let me just say how good it has been to have a dialogue with you all these years.
• Today is a day to embark on anew journey.
• I feel honoured and humbled to be the presidential candidate for UPA 2, supported by Samajwadi party, BSP, Shiv Sena, CPM , Forwad Bloc.
• Standing at the brink of such honour I feel a tinge of sentiment leaving my life as a political activists of over 4 decades.
• I will miss my colleagues in the Finance Ministry.
• Friends I have travelled a distance in my life but I always remind myself that I was born in a village in Bengal, I saw the lives of poor farmers.
• Not every decision I have taken may have been right but I have taken those decisions keeping in view the interests of people whose faces appear before me more than all.
• Members of the media have always reminded me of my responsibilities, most of the time through your criticism and sometimes through your appreciation.
• I hope this you will continue as long as I am in public life.
• Thank you sincerely for the opportunity which you have given me to interact with you.