President Pratibha Patil has decided to give up the defence land in Pune where her post-retirement home was being built.
The 26, 100 sq ft land has been a cause of media furore for violating norms. Rs 2.5 cr had already been spent on the accommodation under construction.
AFP
Archana Dutta spokesperson of the President said , “President was pained at fabrication by media.” She therefore decided to forego the land.
“There is no restriction in the size of land to be used for president’s accomodation outside of Delhi,” she added.
“…considering the fact that the issue has got linked with the issue of war widows accommodation by some people, the President has chosen to forego the aforesaid allotment of accommodation proposed to be made to her as her post-retirement home in Pune,” the Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a statement.
While the statement referred to Pune accommodation, there was no clarity as to what the President would do about her post-retirement plans.
“Hope this will put an end to all misgivings in this regard,” the statement said seeking to bring to an end the controversy over the land that was to be her home in Khadki cantonment in Pune.
However, Rashtrapati Bhavan maintained that there has been no wrong doing or violation of rules. All rules were being strictly adhered to for a post-retirement house for a President.
Questions have been raised on the timing of the President’s decision. The controversy had been raging across media for quite some time now and the government was probably looking for a way to save Patil from an embarrassing situation just before she demits office.
With inputs from PTI
