Not disappointed over not getting second term: Kalam

New Delhi, July 20 (UNI) President A P J Abdul Kalam today said he was not at all disappointed over not getting a second term at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where the office of profit issue provided a real ''testing time'' for him during his tenure.

''I have a lot of things on hand and will be busy doing these,'' Dr Kalam said while inter-acting with reporters individually at a farewell function organised for the mediaperson at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Asked for his refusal to jump into the Presidential poll fray at the request of several political parties, he said he decided not to contest as there was no wider consensus in his favour.

A reporter asked him about the testing time during his tenure, to which he said he had to take a lot of time, weighing the pros and cons of the Bill relating to the office of profit issue.

To a question on whether it was desirable that the President was a politician, he said the incumbent should be a person who served the people.

Responding to a query, he said making Rashtrapati Bhavan a ''people's Bhavan'' would remain his memorable experience at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The reporters, numbering over 200, were made to stand in line along the sides of the majestic Ashoka Hall, the venue for swearing-in of the Council of Ministers, for the farewell function of Dr Kalam, who demits office on July 25, the day his successor would be sworn in.

Dr Kalam walked past the journalists, shaking hands and spending a few moments with every one as the Rashtrapati Bhavan photographer went on recording each meeting.

This was followed by high tea.

UNI