United Progressive Alliance-Left presidential nominee Pratibha Patil on Saturday said her election as the first woman President of India would be a historic event happening 60 years after country's independence.
Addressing a meeting of Congress-People's Democratic Party MLAs in Srinagar as part of her campaign to garner support for her candidature, she said she fully realised the dignity and responsibility of the top constitutional post.
"Besides, being victory of millions of people in the country, my election as the first woman President will be a historic event happening 60 years after India's independence," Patil said.
Despite efforts to tarnish her image, she said she would discharge her responsibilities for the top post with commitment and continue to serve the country with resolve and humility.
During her 50 years of public life, the Presidential hopeful said she had faced several challenges and tirelessly worked for rural development and women empowerment.
She said she fully believed in values of equality, social justice, secularism and democracy enshrined in the Constitution.
"India is an old civilization and a young Republic where people wield the ultimate power. The country is developing in every field. However, the gains should reach the poor, minorities, women and children," she said.
Patil held an hour-long meeting with MLAs belonging to Congress, People's Democratic Party and People's Democratic Front. Independents supporting the Cong-PDP government in Jammu and Kashmir also attended the meeting.
Patil thanked the MLAs of the ruling coalition for extending support to her in the upcoming presidential election.
Addressing the meeting, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad pledged full support to Patil and said she would prove to be a highly able and impartial President under whose guidance the country would receive a new direction.
He said, "Patil is a thoroughly secular person who respects every religion and shares her love and affection with all communities."
The chief minister said even in the United States, the idea of a woman President was still being debated in political circles.
"We will ensure that she wins with a massive majority," Azad said, amid thumping of desks by the MLAs.
A senior PDP MLA told PTI after the meeting that all the legislators present at the meeting pledged their support to Patil.
He said the issue of troop reduction, a bone of contention between Congress and PDP, would not affect the voting pattern.
