Stating that the UPA’s Presidential candidate Pranab Mukherji was not against separate Telangana state demand, former minister Dr P Shanker Rao has urged the TRS Chief K Chandrashekar Rao and TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu to extend their support to Pranab in the Presidential election.
Speaking to the media at CLP office here on Thursday, Dr Rao said that Pranab Mukherji has a vast experience as a politician, and he has headed 141 Parliamentary Committees and had earned the name as a trouble shooter. He said that Pranab was the most suitable candidate for the office of President.
Finding fault with the Telangana Nagara Samithi Convener Dr Nagam Janardhan Reddy’s statement that Pranab Mukherji was against the creation of separate Telangana, Dr Rao said that Pranab was not against separate state. He also said that YSRCP Chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy also belongs to Congress party, and urged him to extend his support to Pranab.
Urging the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamatha Benerji to extend her support to the candidature of the Pranab Mukerji, Dr Rao said that she has to think twice on the issue. He said that Mamatha has to remember the fact that Pranab was from her own land, and hence she has to extend her support to him.
Dr Rao also requested the NDA’s Presidential candidate PA Sangma to give up his efforts to contest for the post. He welcomed the decision of the former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam to refrain from the contest.
Taking serious exception to the RSS Chief Mohan Bhagawath’s statement that Narendra Modi was an Hindu leader and he could be made Prime Minister keeping in view of his Hindutva ideology, Dr Rao said that India is a secular country and Modi, who was a non-secular leader, has no moral right to rule the country, and so the latter has to forget about the Prime Minister post. (NSS)