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| Patil breaks silence, says charges against her are baseless | | |
CHENNAI, JUL 1 Breaking her silence over the allegations levelled by NDA and in the media, UPA Presidential nominee Pratibha Patil today described the charges as "false, malicious and baseless".
"I deny the allegations being made against me right from the day I was named as UPA's Presidential nominee. These allegations are false, malicious and baseless," she told MLAs and MPs of UPA and Left parties from Tamil Nadu while launching her campaign for the July 19 Presidential poll.
"Despite all attempts to tarnish my image, I will strive to serve the nation," she said.
"In the last two days, a great deal had been written and spoken about me. I only wish to say that the malicious allegations made against me are false and baseless", Patil said.
"Despite all attempts to tarnish my image, I remain steadfast to my commitment to serve countrymen and women in the highest and the most noble traditions of our democracy and I will continue to serve the nation with humility and with a deep sense of duty," she said.
The UPA-Left candidate said she was deeply conscious of "the great honour" that had been bestowed upon her and was keenly aware of the inspiring responsibility of the office of the President.
Patil's remarks came against the backdrop of a series of charges levelled against her by NDA and in the media about financial dealings by the cooperative bank founded by her and against her brother G M Patil.
In an apparent reference to AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa's criticism of Patil, DMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi said the former Rajsthan Governor had worked as a `responsible opposition' leader unlike those who had criticised her.
Patil's speech showed she knew more than those who were criticising her, Karunanidhi added.
Patil thanked UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, leaders of DMK-led DPA in Tamil Nadu, particularly Chief Minister and Karunanidhi and senior leaders of other supporting parties and Left parties for backing her candidature. It was a significant momement in the history of the country's democracy, she added.
"I have the unique privilege of being nominated as the UPA-Left candidate for the Presidential election and will have the great honour, when elected, of becoming the country's first woman President. Sixty years after independendence, there will be a woman in the Rashtrapathi Bhavan," she said.
Later, addressing a massive women's rally, Patil said women were the backbone of every home and they contributed greatly to the progress and development of the nation.
She said even during independence struggle, women had contributed greatly and faced lathis and bullets even while feeding their families.
"Throughout my life, I have worked for the empowerment of women and this is a proud moment. It has been my privilege to serve society in many ways and capacities in the past 55 years", she said.
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