President to forego post-retirement accommodation in Pune

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Stung by controversies, President Pratibha Patil on Friday announced her decision to forego the accommodation allotted to her as post-retirement home in Pune.

"...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.

Rashtrapati Bhavan sources said Friday's decision is about what was occupying her mind. She will decide in due course as to what has to be done, they said.

"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.

A controversy had broken recently when Suresh Patil, a retired Lt Col of the Pune-based 'Justice for Jawan', part of the NGO 'Green Thumb' group, released details on government's plan to give President Patil housing in Pune over a large extent of land measuring 2.6 lakh sq feet.

He had claimed that a house with a plinth area of 4,500 sq feet is being built for the President by bringing down two British era county bungalows.

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.