New Delhi:
President Pratibha Patil has decided to surrender the land in Pune that had been allotted for a post-retirement home for her after she completes her five-year term in July. An organization of retired army officers had said that a five-acre plot on defence - owned land for the president was unacceptable.
In a statement, President Patil's office said today that she has been upset with recent coverage of the controversy. "She chose not to react as she has always held herself answerable to the Constitution of our country and her conscience... what has pained the President the most is the fact that she is now being portrayed by some people as one who, by agreeing to accept a defence accommodation for her post retirement home, is insensitive to the cause of war widows and ex-servicemen."
The statement also stresses that the land "was to be allotted to her for use as her post-retirement residence only during her lifetime with no rights of ownership, transfer lease, etc."
Former Presidents are entitled to free accommodation after they complete their terms. But the construction of a new home specially for the President generated a heated debate.
Suresh Patil, a retired ex-serviceman involved with the Pune-based 'Justice for Jawans', led the campaign against the land that was sanctioned to the President within the Khadki cantonment in Pune. He alleged that five acres of land was being set aside for her home even though several officers do not get the accommodation they are entitled to here because of an alleged shortage of apartments.
The controversy over President Patil's post-retirement home followed Right to Information applications that revealed her trips abroad since she assumed office in July 2007 have rung up bills of 205 crores, more than any other President in India's history.