UPA-Left bringing disrepute to Presidential post: BJP

Hyderabad, July 9 (UNI) The BJP today charged the UPA-Left parties with bringing disrepute to the post of the President by nominating a candidate, allegedly surrounded by controversies.

Addressing a press conference here today, BJP National spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said never in India's history, a Presidential candidate was surrounded with so many controversies.

He alleged that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had demeaned earlier Presidents by comparing Ms Prathiba Patil with them. The nation had a right to know the truth behind the allegations levelled against Ms Patil and her relatives, he added.

He said the charges against her were raised by the affected people and the media, and not by the BJP as alleged by some in political circles.

Among the charges against her, he said the classic case was closure of a Cooperative Bank formed by herself and named after her.

Thousands of depositors lost their money because of non-payment of huge loans taken by her relatives, he alleged.

Mr Javadekar said the widow of a murdered Congress leader had accused Ms Patil of shielding murderers of her husband. A case was also pending against Ms Patil's husband in Mumbai court regarding his employee - a teacher - committing suicide.

He demanded a reply from Ms Patil on all these allegations, adding that as a Presidential candidate, she was duty bound to answer the allegations.

UNI