Pratibha Patil

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Pratibha Patil
File:Vin7.jpg
Pratibha Patil as the Governor of Rajasthan
President of India
Assumed office
July 25, 2007
Preceded byDr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Governor of Rajasthan
In office
November 8, 2004 – June 23, 2007
Preceded byT. V. Rajeshwar
Succeeded byA. R. Kidwai
Member of Parliament
(Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha)
In office
1985–1996
ConstituencyAmravati
Member of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly
In office
1962–1985
Personal details
Born (1934-12-19) December 19, 1934 (age 89)
Nadgaon
Political partyCongress (I)
Height150px
SpouseDevisingh Ransingh Shekhawat
Residence(s)(present)
11, Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi (temporary)
Worli, Mumbai (permanent)
Alma materGovernment Law College, Mumbai
WebsiteGovernor of Rajasthan official website

Pratibha Devisingh Patil (born December 19, 1934) is the President-elect of India. She is a member of the Indian National Congress and was the nominee of the ruling United Progressive Alliance and Indian Left. She won the last presidential election, held on July 19 2007.[1][2][3] She will take office as India's first female president on July 25.

A lawyer by training, Pratibha Patil was a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, representing Edlabad constituency in Jalgaon District from 1962 to 1985. From 1986 to 1988, she held the post of deputy chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. As a member of parliament, she represented Amravati in the Lok Sabha from 1991 to 1996. She later became the 16th Governor of Rajasthan and, notably, was also the first female governor of this state.

Early life

Pratibha Kumari Patil was born to Narayan Paglu Rao in Nadgaon, Maharashtra. She studied at R.R. School at Jalgaon . She completed her M.A. from M.J. College, Jalgaon (affiliated to North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon) and obtained a Law Degree from the Government Law College, Mumbai (affiliated to University of Bombay). During her college days, she excelled in table tennis, winning various inter-college tournaments[4]. In 1962, Pratibha Patil was voted "College Queen" of Mooljee Jaitha (MJ) College in Jalgaon[5] The same year, she won an assembly election from Edlabad constituency on the Indian National Congress ticket.

She married educator Devisingh Ransingh Shekhawat on July 7, 1965[6]. Being active in Maharashtra politics she preferred not to take her husband's surname. The couple has a son and a daughter.

Her institutions

Together with her husband, she set up an educational institute, Vidya Bharati Shikshan Prasarak Mandal, which runs a chain of schools and colleges in Jalgaon and Mumbai. She has also set up Shram Sadhana Trust that runs hostels for working women in New Delhi, Mumbai and Pune and an engineering college in Jalgaon. She also founded and was the chairperson of a cooperative sugar factory known as Sant Muktabai Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana and a cooperative bank named after herself as Pratibha Mahila Sahakari Bank. She was also involved in setting up an Industrial Training School for the visually challenged in Jalgaon and running a school for poor children of Vimukta Jamatis & Nomadic Tribes.

Political career

Pratibha Patil joined politics in 1962 at the age of 27. Under the mentorship of senior Congress leader and ex-Chief Minister Yashwantrao Chavan,[7] she became a deputy minister for education after re-election in 1967 (in the Vasantrao Naik ministry). In her next terms (1972-78) she was a full cabinet minister for the state. In successive congress governments, she handled the portfolios of tourism, social welfare and housing under several chief ministers, Vasantdada Patil, Babasaheb Bhosle, S. B. Chavan and Sharad Pawar. She was continually re-elected to the assembly, either from Jalgaon or the nearby Edlabad constituencies, until 1985, when she was elected to the Rajya Sabha as a Congress candidate. She has never lost an election that she has contested.[8]

Post-Emergency Indira loyalist

In 1977, the Congress party split up after Indira Gandhi's defeat following the Indian Emergency (1975–1977). Many senior leaders of state Congress(I) , including Pratibha's mentor Chavan and his protege Sharad Pawar, as well as much of the rank and file joined the Congress (Urs) party floated by Devraj Urs. However, Pratibha preferred to remain with Indira Gandhi, though it verged on inviting political ridicule. In fact, few know that Pratibha managed Indira Gandhi's kitchen when Sanjay died. This act of loyalty to the Gandhi family would be remembered later by Rajiv Gandhi and subsequently, Sonia Gandhi.She protested arrest of Indira Gandhi in December 1977 and and spent 10 days in prision. [9] In 1978, when the Congress (Urs) came to power in Maharashtra, she became Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly.

In 1980, the Congress (I) swept back into power, and her name was considered a front-runner for the Chief Minister's post. However, the post went to Sanjay Gandhi's confidant A. R. Antulay, who was soon forced to resign on corruption charges. Subsequently, she became a minister again in the Vasantdada Patil ministry. Following differences between Patil and then Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief Prabha Rau, Rajiv Gandhi appointed her as MPCC chief (1988-90).

Tenure at Centre

In 1985, she was elected to the Rajya Sabha, and served as its deputy chairperson from November 1986 to November 1988. Her term expired in April 1990. The following year, in the elections when Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated she won election 10th Lok Sabha from at Amravati constituency, her husband's city, where he had once been mayor, thus first time entering in lower house of national parliament Lok Sabha.

She has also served as Director of National Federation of Urban Co-operative Banks & Credit Societies and the Member of Governing Council, National Co-operative, Union of India.

Governor of Rajasthan

In November 2004, eight years after she had completed her term in the 10th Lok Sabha, Pratibha Patil was recalled from political hibernation[8] to become the first woman Governor of Rajasthan. She was the second politician from Maharashtra in this post, the first being Vasantdada Patil. With Pratibha Patil as Governor, Rajasthan had women in three significant positions of power in the state, including Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Assembly Speaker Sumitra Singh.[10]

In April 2006, the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly passed the Rajasthan Freedom of Religion Bill 2006 (originally titled as "Rajasthan Dharma Swatantrya Bill, 2006"). The objective of the bill was to control "unlawful conversion from one religion to another by allurement or by fraudulent means or forcibly." However, some Christian organizations opposed the bill alleging that the bill was an outcome of the rightist policies of Sangh Parivar.[11][12] However, Pratibha Patil returned the bill unsigned, stating certain clauses in the Bill infringed on "the fundamental rights such as freedom of speech and expression, freedom of conscience and freedom to profess, practice and propagate religion."[13]

The Government of Rajasthan re-sent the bill to her in May 2006 noting that similar anti-conversion laws enacted by Congress governments in Madhya Pradesh and Orissa over 40 years ago were upheld by the Supreme Court of India and that the head of the Constituent Assembly, Dr B R Ambedkar, while drafting Article 25 of the Constitution had said that it would be best to leave it to the state legislatures to make laws to regulate conversions.[14] After sitting on the bill for over a year she sent it to the President of India just a day before she resigned as governor of Rajasthan. [15] A similar bill named Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act 2006 passed later was promptly signed by the state governor.

Pratibha Patil resigned as the Governor of Rajasthan on June 21, 2007, due to her presidential candidacy.[16]

Nomination for Presidential Election 2007

Main article: Indian presidential election, 2007

On 14th June, United Progressive Alliance (UPA), the ruling alliance of political parties in India headed by Congress (I), and the Indian left nominated her as their candidate for the Presidential Election to be held on 19 July 2007.[17] She emerged as a compromise candidate after the Left parties would not agree to the nomination of present Home Minister Shivraj Patil. At that point, Sonia Gandhi proposed Pratibha Patil's name. Her loyalty to Nehru-Gandhi family was widely perceived to be a major factor in her nomination as UPA-Left Presidential candidate.[18]

This makes her most likely to become the first female President of India. UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi described her nomination as a "historic occasion" in India's 60th year of independence.

Before leaving Jaipur for New Delhi, she thanked Sonia Gandhi for choosing her and said that her first job as president would be to make National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) started by UPA a success.[19] In Delhi she asserted that she would not be a rubber stamp president.[20]

Accompanied by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi she filed her nomination on 23 January which has been found to be valid after scrutiny. She faces Bhairon Singh Shekhawat a NDA suppoted candidate in a straight contest. She is visting state capitals to garner support .Her chances got major boost with decision of UNPA to abstain from voting.

The Leader of the Opposition L K Advani sought intervention of Election Commission of India to get Pratibha Patil to declare her assets.[21] which has been turned down by the Commission.

Legal challenges to candidature

An advocate Manohar Lal Sharma has filed a Public Interest Litigation before a bench of Supreme Court of India comprising Justice Tarun Chatterjee and Justice P K Balasubramanyan challenging her nomination for the presidential election 2007. The advocate has referred to the various allegations against Patil and her family members and sought the cancellation of her nomination papers on the ground of her being an undischarged insolvent. The petitioner raised legal and constitutional questions on whether a person declared to be an 'undischarged insolvent', for not clearing a debt to the public exchequer and others, was eligible to be elected president[22][23].

The apex court however observed that it could not act on mere allegations, and rejected the petition at the admission stage [24] itself. The court said there was no merit in the petition as there was no document to substantiate the allegations [25] and raised doubts about the petitioners real intention adding it was more of a "private interest litigation"[26]. The court ruled:

This petition is filed under Article 32 of the Constitution. We find no ground to interfere and exercise our jurisdiction. However, this will not prevent the petitioner from approaching appropriate authorities for redressal of his grievances.[26]

The advocate then approached the Election Commission of India seeking her disqualification. The Election Commission, through an order, replied:

The question whether a person has become insolvent and whether he/she is still an undischarged insolvent has to be decided by the competent insolvency court under the provisions of the Provincial Insolvency Act, 1920, and not by the Commission. The Commission is not the appropriate forum. No action is called for on the part of the Commission on your representation.[24]

Following this, the advocate again approached the court and filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) before a bench comprising Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice R.V. Raveendran. He contended that the Election Commission had not applied it's mind to the matter, and sought quashing of the commission's order. [24]

In another case a Delhi-based NGO has also filed a petition before the Delhi High Court alleging that Patil being Managing Trustee of Mumbai-based Shram Sadhana Bombay Trust, which is under the control of state government, was holding the office of profit making her ineligible to contest the President's election[27]. The High Court has deferred the hearing until after election.[28]

Controversies

Since her nomination as presidential candidate a number of controversies have resurfaced all except "purdah remarks" and "divine indication" predate her nomination . It started with her remarks on purdah and later a day before her filing of nomination papers when Rajani Patil the widow of the murdered congressman from Jalgaon in a press conference in Delhi alleged Pratibha of using her influence for shielding her brother G.N.Patil in the murder case . Since then CNN-IBN reported about default by Pratibha Bank and revoking of its lincence by RBI and about default in repayment by Cooperative sugar factory founded by Patil.

The sources of these controversies are petition from Rajani Patil to Presient Abdul Kalam and her two letters to Sonia Gandhi, RBI inspection reports, court notices,letters from the employees union of the bank, the minutes of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly . Some of the allegations are results of police inquiries, court proceedings, notices from RBI and payment notice from the lenders and from show caouse and penalty notices from Excise commissioner etc. The allegations have led to further petitions being filed in the courts for disqualifying her from contesting, which were either dismissed or are sill pending hearing (See the "Legal Challenges" section).

Reacting to allegations UNPA leader Dr. Jayalalithaa asked the UPA to withdraw Pratibha patil and is quoted to have said:

"It is distressing to see that the highest constitutional office in the country had been subjected to mudslinging ... The nation has been embarrassed in the eyes of the world, because UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi wants a President who will be pliable"[29].

BJP's campaign

Since Pratibha Patil's nomination as a presidential candidate, the media savvy[30][31] BJP has been highlighting various issues with regard to her past activities and recent comments as part of their political campaign against her:

"Our media strategists are on the job. The BJP has launched a vigorous campaign against Patil, but the fact is that this is not a direct election in which people participate. Whether this media campaign will be able to win support from parties that do not want to associate themselves in any way with us is yet unclear," a senior BJP leader said.[32]

BJP leader Arun Shourie authored two articles published as a booklet titled 'Does This Tainted Person Deserve to Become President of India?'.[17]. Later another BJP leader Arun Jaitley announced launch of a web site called Know Pratibha Patil containing various media reports and documents and also released a calendar-sized compilation of newspaper articles and reports on Pratibha Patil's questionable financial dealings and those of her family.[18]

The campaign successfully generated a lot of media attention on Pratibha Patil as a controversial and unworthy presidential candidate.

While the BJP has been trying to build a strong public opinion against her, they clarified that they were not challenging her nomination on legal grounds:

The issue is actually moral, not so much legal. [33]

Refutation

The leaders of Indian National Congress and Indian left say that these facts highlighted are a clever mixture of truth, half-truths and exaggerations [34]. They have also pointed out that these issues have never been raised in the past while she was a deputy chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, or during her tenure as a governor. They accused the BJP of launching a "malicious, unsubstantiated and deliberate" slanderous campaign just to damage her reputation[35][36][37]. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh defended Pratibha patil and dismissed the charges as "mud-slinging" [38]. On Monday 2 July 2007 breaking her long silence Pritibha Patil described the allegations leveled against her as "false, malicious and baseless". [39]

Prominent allegations against her that have been controversial are:

Allegations of Shielding her Brother on a Murder Charge

Main article: Vishram Patil murder case

On June 22, 2007, Rajni Patil a professor of Marathi in a Jalgaon college and the widow of murdered Jalgaon congressman Vishram G Patil in a NDA facilitated press conference claimed that her husband was murdered by Pratibha Patil's brother G.N.Patil. She accused Pratibha Patil of shielding her brother. She further said that she had written to Sonia Gandhi and President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam giving details about the allegation. Copies of her memorandum to the President on this issue were distributed to the press by Mr. Sudheendra Kulkarni, an aide of Leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani [40][41]

On 13 July 2007 Rajani Patil moved the Bombay High Court demanding that the CBI "interrogate" UPA's presidential candidate Pratibha Patil and her brother in connection with the case before the presidential poll.Rajni Patil's petition stated that the CBI, which was directed by the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court to probe the case in February, must question Pratibha before July 19, the date for the presidential election because she might get "presidential immunity" if she wins the poll. [42]

The lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani told said that two CDs have surfaced which contain incriminating material against Patil's brother. The CDs contain footage of the elections for the district Congress presidentship in Jalgaon. Jethmalani offered to place both CDs on record, saying,"These contain vital information showing the political link behind the murder." [19]

The press conference was organised at the residence of Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, a leader of the Akali Dal which is member of the BJP led NDA [43].

BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad later told reporters:

These are all stark, important and disturbing facts much in existence even before she was considered as a candidate for the highest constitutional office of the country ... Therefore, consistent with the norms of dignity, transparency and constitutional propriety relating to such a high office, the BJP would like Pratibha Patil herself to satisfactorily reply to some of the most disturbing questions that have emerged from Rajni Patil's revelations[44]

The same day, Mr. Sharad Pawar and Mr. Dasmunsi of the UPA refuted the allegations. Nagaland Post reported:

"It is a matter that the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) is probing. Anyway, her brother's name was not in the FIR (first information report) nor in the charge sheet," said Pawar, former Maharashtra chief minister. Both ministers blamed the opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA), of which the Akali Dal is a constituent, for the slur campaign against the presidential candidate. "I met Dhindsa in the morning and he said he did not have any idea about the press conference. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was shocked to see how his colleague's house was being used for dirty politics," Pawar remarked. Referring to reports that Sudheendra Kulkarni, a former Prime Minister's Office (PMO) official, had brought the woman to the national capital, Pawar said: "It looks like NDA was behind it." Dasmunsi added: "The malign campaign by an ex-PMO official close to the former prime minister (Atal Bihari Vajpayee) is most unfortunate. It reflects their frustration and desperation and is a sign of their losing the election." [45]

Sushma Swaraj, NDA spokesperson and BJP leader Sushma Swaraj clarified:

No one in the NDA knows who this Rajni Patil is who is reported to have made some allegation against Pratibha Patil.[43]

Pratibha Women Cooperative Bank

Main article: Pratibha Mahila Sahakari Bank

Pratibha Mahila Sahakari Bank, a cooperative bank set up by Pratibha Patil in 1973 in her name, to empower women, had its license revoked in 2003 by the Reserve Bank of India for alleged financial irregularities. Among the reasons listed by the RBI for cancellation of the license was the faulty loan policy of the bank and loan interest waivers given, among others, to Pratibha Patil’s relatives. Pratibha Patil was one of the chairperson of the Bank and along with a number of her relatives, was one of its Directors. She is currently one of the 34 respondents in an ongoing case in the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court on the subject of mismanagement of the bank and misappropriation of funds by its Managing Directors. [46][47]

In her defence, her supporters point out that she was not the founding president[48] of the bank and that she held the job of the chairperson for only a month and eight days[49]. They also point out that the RBI has never mentioned Patil's name in the report[48], and the court has not charge-sheeted her[50]. Communist leader A.B. Bardhan cast doubts on the credibility of the the official employees union of the bank, which has been highlighting the issue of the banks mismanagement since 2002, drawing attention to the fact that it is associated with the BMS union led by the BJP[50].

Sant Muktabai Cooperative Sugar Factory

Main article: Sant Muktabai Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana

A cooperative sugar factory - Sant Muktabai Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana - of which Pratibha is a founder member, was declared a defaulter for failing to repay a Rs 17.5 crore (Rs 175 million) bank loan.[51] Pratibha Patil had been its chairperson and director till she became the Governor of Rajasthan[52]. The loan was taken in 1994 when Pratibha was its chairperson but the factory has failed to repay the full amount. The bank sealed the factory on January 23, 2007 after issuing many reminders. This was the second occasion when the mill had been sealed. Earlier, it was sealed in January 2006, but was reopened after the board of directors headed by G. N. Patil - younger brother of Pratibha Patil requested for an opportunity to improve the performance of the mill.[53].

In 2002 the chief commissioner of central excise and customs, Pune, issued notice to the factory for evading excise duty resulting from diversion of export-oriented sugar by the factory into domestic market.

Dubbing as "malign campaign" the allegations, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar defended her and noted that there was never any enquiry under Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act against her. He also pointed out that as many as 74 mills were issued notices in December 2006 and it was "unfortunate that only one particular case has been brought up in the media". Pawar said most of the mills had failed to repay the loans because of persistent drought affecting sugarcane production, leading these mills to go sick.[54]

Polytechnic scam

Main article: Shrama Sadhna Trust

According to the Economic Times the Shrama Sadhna Trust, a charitable trust in Mumbai of which Ms Patil is the managing trustee, is alleged to have siphoned funds totaling Rs 4.16 crore (Rs 41.6 million) between 2001 and 2003 from an engineering polytechnic run by it in Jalgaon. [55]

MPLADS scam

As Member of Parliament from Amravati between 1991 and 1996 Pratibha Patil had diverted Rs 36 lakh (Rs 3.6 million) from her MPLADS fund to a trust run by her husband Devisingh Shekhawat. This was in violation of Government rules which barred MPs from providing funds to organisation run by their relatives.[56][57]

Views on sterilisation

On 10 December 1975 when she was the Health Minister of Maharashtra Pratibha Patil advocated in Maharashtra Assembly that people with hereditary diseases should be compulsorily sterilised. [58]

Purdah remarks

On June 17, 2007, Pratibha Patil made controversial remarks on the Purdah system, while addressing a congregation of Rajputs in Udaipur:[59]

Women have always been respected in the Indian culture. The purdah system was introduced to protect them from the Muslim invaders. However, times have changed. India is now independent and hence, the systems should also change. Now that women are progressing in every field, we should morally support and encourage them by leaving such practices behind [60].

She was criticized by Islamic theologians connected with the Muslim Personal Law Board, for saying that the purdah system was introduced to protect women from Muslim cultural practices. Maulana Rashid said:

The statement is a clear reflection of Pratibha's mindset about Islam and Muslims. It is better the UPA should change its presidential candidate and opt for a more secular person for this post [61].

Divine indication

Patil claims to have spoken to the spirit of the deceased leader (Baba Lekhraj[62]) of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University at their headquarters in Mount Abu, Rajasthan.[62]

"Dadiji ke shareer mein Baba aye ... Maine unse baat ki (Baba entered Devi’s body and he communicated to me through her)," she said on TV camera.[63] Reporters began to report on the message she received of a “divine indication“ of great responsibility coming her way.[64]

Patil claims to have received the mediumistic message during the last season in which the spirits they call "Bapdada" communicated with the faithful of the Brahma Kumaris sect.[62][65] She had gone to seek the blessings of Hirday Mohini, also known as Dadi Gulzar or Dadiji.[63][66]

Positions held

Period Position
1967-72 Deputy Minister, Public Health, Prohibition, Tourism, Housing & Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Maharashtra
1972-74 Cabinet Minister, Social Welfare, Government of Maharashtra
1974-75 Cabinet Minister, Public Health & Social Welfare, Government of Maharashtra
1975-76 Cabinet Minister, Prohibition, Rehabilitation and Cultural Affairs, Government of Maharashtra
1977-78 Cabinet Minister, Education, Government of Maharashtra
July 1979 to February 1980 Leader of Opposition, CDP (I), Maharashtra Legislative Assembly
1982-85 Cabinet Minister, Urban Development and Housing, Government of Maharashtra
1983-85 Cabinet Minister, Civil Supplies and Social Welfare, Government of Maharashtra
November 18, 1986 to November 5, 1988 Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha
1986-88 Chairman, Committee of Privileges, Rajya Sabha; Member, Business Advisory Committee, Rajya Sabha
1991-96 Chairman, House Committee, Lok Sabha
November 8, 2004-present Governor of Rajasthan
Preceded by Governor of Rajasthan
2004–2007 		Succeeded by

See also

References

  1. ^ Bibhudatta Pradhan (2007-07-19). "Patil Poised to Become India's First Female President". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2007-07-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ Anita Joshua (2007-07-20). "High turnout in Presidential poll". The Hindu. Retrieved 2007-07-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ "Voting for Presidential poll ends". NDTV. 2007-07-19. Retrieved 2007-07-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ Biographical Sketch Member of Parliament X Lok Sabha
  5. ^ Kiran Tare, (2007-06-15). "From college queen to future President". Mid-Day, Mumbai. Retrieved 2007-06-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  6. ^ "Biography of Mrs Pratibha Patil". indiastudychannel.com. Retrieved 2007-06-16.
  7. ^ Ravish Tiwari / Mahesh Mhatre (2007-06-15). "Pratibha's CV says it all: She backed Indira 'n was backed by Rajiv". Indian Express. Retrieved 2007-06-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ a b Rediff.com (2007-06-14). "Profile: UPA President nominee Pratibha Patil". Tabrez Khan in Mumbai. Retrieved 2007-06-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ [1]
  10. ^ "Rajasthan gets its first woman Governor". The Hindu. 2004-11-29. Retrieved 2007-06-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ Governor urged not to give assent to religion Bill, The Hindu, 2006-04-14
  12. ^ Rajasthan anti-conversion bill sent back to Governor
  13. ^ Suspense over the fate of Religious Freedom Bill, The Hindu, 2006-06-20.
  14. ^ Rajasthan anti-conversion bill sent back to Governor
  15. ^ Pratibha gives Religious Bill to President, Nagaland Post, 2007-06-20, accessed on 2007-07-09
  16. ^ "Match over, now: Left rejects second term for Kalam", Central Chronicle, June 21, 2007.
  17. ^ Prez polls: Sonia announces Pratibha Patil's name, NDTV
  18. ^ [2]
  19. ^ I'm grateful to Sonia: Pratibha Patil
  20. ^ [3]
  21. ^ [4]
  22. ^ [5]
  23. ^ [6]
  24. ^ a b c Another PIL filed against Pratibha The Hindu - 13th, July 2007 Cite error: The named reference "pil" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  25. ^ SC rejects anti-Pratibha PIL; UPA-Left now raring to go The Financial Express - July 04, 2007
  26. ^ a b [7] Cite error: The named reference "rediffpil" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  27. ^ [8]
  28. ^ [9]
  29. ^ [10]
  30. ^ Indian Express - May 24, 1999
  31. ^ BJP workers trained to be media savvy The Times of India August 10. 2001
  32. ^ [11]
  33. ^ NDA’s legal ploy fails, aims moral fire at Pratibha Daily News Analysis - July 02, 2007
  34. ^ The Runaway Presidential Campaign The Hindu - July 14, 2007
  35. ^ [http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/25/stories/2007062559040100.htm RSS, BJP desperate: CPI (M)] The Hindu - June 25, 2007
  36. ^ NCP blasts BJP for anti-Pratibha campaign New kerala - june 28, 2007
  37. ^ UPA criticises BJP-RSS campaign against Pratibha Times of India - June 28, 2007
  38. ^ [12]
  39. ^ [13]
  40. ^ Congman's wife drags Pratibha name into allegations, NDA distances itself
  41. ^ Woman claims husband killed by Pratibha Patil's brother Times of India- June 22, 2007
  42. ^ The Hindustan Times
  43. ^ a b We don’t know about Rajni Patil, says NDA The Hindu - June 23, 2007 Cite error: The named reference "hindujun23" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  44. ^ BJP asks Patil to respond to charges June 23, 2007
  45. ^ UPA defends Patil against allegations Nagalnd Post - June 23, 2007
  46. ^ Pratibha Patil in the line of fire NDTV - June 25, 2007
  47. ^ Pratibha bank waived loans for kin before RBI shut it down
  48. ^ a b Congress rebuts BJP charges on Pratibha Patil DailyIndia - June 29, 2007 Cite error: The named reference "bnkdefence" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  49. ^ Should Pratibha Patil be President?Hindustan Times - July 07, 2007
  50. ^ a b CNN - IBN Interview CNN - IBN - July 01, 2007 Cite error: The named reference "karanthapar" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  51. ^ Return Rs 17-cr loan, bank tells Pratibha's family CNN-IBN - June 22, 2007
  52. ^ Pawar defends Pratibha - The Hindu - June 24, 2007
  53. ^ UPA nominee's co-op firm loan defaulter, gets notice The Pioneer - June 23, 2007
  54. ^ Allegations against Pratibha Patil unfortunate: UPA - The Hindu - June 23, 2007
  55. ^ Multi-faceted Pratibha: It’s polytechnic scam now
  56. ^ [14]
  57. ^ [15]
  58. ^ [16]
  59. ^ Pratibha Patil unveils a controversy Yahoo News - June 18, 2007
  60. ^ Fury as presidential hopeful urges women to throw off 'veil of invader'
  61. ^ Pratibha anti-Islam, say MPLB maulanas The Pioneer - June 20, 2007
  62. ^ a b c IBN Live, Race for Raisina: Shekhawat vs. Patil - Pratibha Patil speaks to a ghost (video)
  63. ^ a b KhaleejTimes, June 28th, 2007, Patil kicks up another row
  64. ^ Times of India, June 27, 2007, Pratibha believes in spirits?
  65. ^ The Pioneer, July 2, 2007, Battle for the palace
  66. ^ BKWSU, Official Site, Dadi Hirdaya Mohini- Joint Administrative Head

External links

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