IndiaPost.com - Why are you disowning Shekhawat, PM asks BJP

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hit back at Leader of the Opposition L K Advani for calling him "handpicked" and had a dig at BJP for not fielding Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat as its candidate in the Presidential election.

In an interaction with a group of women journalists, Singh took exception to recent comments by Advani that he was a "handpicked" Prime Minister. "The language used by Advani is not healthy," the Prime Minister said. "We have made sincere efforts to have good relations between the ruling party and the opposition. We must learn to respect each other," Singh said.

In sarcastic comments on Shekhawat contesting as an Independent, Singh said "here you have BJP ..... Bhairon Singh Shekhawat has spent all his life in BJP. But even he does not want to appear under the bondage of BJP or NDA." He said while UPA and Left allies were unitedly behind UPA-Left nominee Pratibha Patil, the NDA was in "disarray" with a Third Front in existence.

"I believe Pratibha Patil is the right choice and our candidate will be victorious," he said, adding he was not at all "apologetic" about her candidature. Rejecting the opposition's allegations against Patil, the Prime Minister said there were "no charges" against the "outstanding" woman and she deserves the top constitutional post. "I have already described the allegations as mudslinging," he said. "We are satisfied there are no charges against her.

I am not apologetic about the choice," Singh underlined, responding to NDA's allegations against her. Describing Patil as "an outstanding person" who is "deserving of the high office", the Prime Minister said "she is the right choice and right candidate.

We are hopeful of (her) victory." He noted that Patil had been in the political arena since 1962 and served in various capacities, including member of Maharashtra Assembly, a minister in Maharashtra, Deputy Chairperson of Rajya Sabha and Governor of Rajasthan for three years.

She has survived for so long, he said. Referring to the Women's Reservation Bill, the Prime Minister said "I have been making efforts to get it passed in Parliament. "It is a coalition government and there are differences of opinion."