Pained at criticism over her plan to settle in a post-retirement home in Pune at government expense, president Pratibha Patil on Friday announced her decision to forgo the defence accommodation.
A two-page statement issued by Patil’s officer on special duty said: “What has pained the president the most is that she is being portrayed as someone, who, by agreeing to accept a defence accommodation for her post-retirement home, is insensitive to the cause of war widows and ex-servicemen.
Rashtrapati Bhavan said the president has always been proud of our brave jawans and that she has the highest regard for our war widows. It even said the accommodation proposed to be allocated to the president was never indicated as one earmarked for war widows.
The president’s house said it was unfortunate that “misgivings continued to persist” despite clarifications by the Rashtrapati Bhavan secretariat.
According to tradition, retiring presidents spend the rest of their time in government accommodation in Delhi or return to their home states. Patil’s decision to stay in a house in Pune at government expense led to widespread criticism.
