Purdah issue: 'Support to Pratibha conditional'

All India Mujlis-Ittehadul Muslimeen announced on Wednesday that it will not support the UPA-Left Presidential candidate Pratibha Patil, if she did not withdraw her remarks on purdah.

"We disagree with Patil's observations about the purdah system in the country. Unless she withdraws the statement or clarifies it immediately, the AIMIM will not support her in the Presidential poll,'' party MP Asaduddin Owaisi said at a press conference.

The AIMIM, a partner of the UPA government, was surprised that such a statement was made by a Presidential candidate, Owaisi said, adding he had informed Congress leader Ahmed Patel about his party's stand on the issue.