RANCHI, July 8:
UPA presidential nominee and former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar today said the elections for the post of President of India was not a battle between two individuals but is that of two separate ideologies and though processes prevailing in the country.
Talking to the reporters after chairing a meeting with UPA allies including the JMM, RJD and the Congress at the residence of Leader of Opposition in Jharkhand Assembly Hemant Soren here Ms Kumar said she was part of the ideology which supports the poor, tribals, dalits, backwards and minorities and talks about maintaining their rights, integrity and security and was against communalism. She said the soil of Jharkhand has taught that one can not create a divide on the regilious grounds and disturb the social fabric of the society. The former Lok Sabha Speaker said MPs/MLAs would listen to their inner conscience over the issue.
Ms Kumar said that she had written a letter to the collegium of MPs and MLAs urging them to listen to the inner voice of conscience and set the course of the nation.
Ms Kumar said that she had also met JMM supremo Shibu Soren and sought her support and added that all the UPA partners in Jharkhand will stand by her.
To a query regarding as to why she did not meet RJD supremo Lalu Yadav in Patna earlier in the day she maintained that RJD was in full support of her candidature.
JMM’s executive president Hemant Soren said Ms Kumar need not worry much as far as things in Jharkhand are concerned.
He said that his party had from the onset decided to stand by her candidature and extend full support to her.
Mr Soren said there was a need to give a strong reply to the thought process of the BJP in these polls.
Those present also included AICC General Secretary B K Hariprasad, JPCC president Sukhdeo Bhagat, former cabinet minister and RJD vice president Annapurna Devi and MLAs of JMM and the Congress. (UNI)
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