The Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday took powerful exception to President Pranab Mukherjee’s pictures showing in some Congress hoardings in poll-bound Punjab and had written to Election Commission to make sure that neutrality of his office “is not breached in any manner.
In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi, the President’s Secretary Omita Paul referenced to the news items in some nationwide dailies which mentioned that Mukherjee’s images were shown on Congress posters and these were under the EC scanner. “The news items also reported that the photo of the President in hoardings along with other leaders of a political party is being looked into by the Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner and the District Election Officer for any possible violation of any law,” Paul wrote.
She underlined that the President is higher than party politics and nor his photo nor anything relevant to him in his potential as the President can or should be utilized for any political purposes. “All political parties should desist from ever linking the President to any political party in any manner for political goals,” she said. “It is requested that necessary steps may be taken to ensure this neutrality of the Office of the President of India is not breached in any manner,” Paul added.
