Pratibha Patil: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|12th President of India from 2007 to 2012}} |
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{{Infobox President |
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{{Use Indian English|date=August 2024}} |
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|name = Pratibha Patil<br><small>प्रतिभा पाटिल</small><br> |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}} |
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|image = PratibhaIndia.jpg |
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{{Infobox officeholder |
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|imagesize = 208px |
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| name = Pratibha Patil |
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| image = The President of India, Smt. Pratibha Patil.jpg |
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|primeminister = [[Manmohan Singh]] |
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| image_size = |
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|vicepresident = [[Mohammad Hamid Ansari]] |
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| caption = Official portrait, 2007 |
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| order = 12th |
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| office = President of India |
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|predecessor = [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam|Abdul Kalam]] |
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| term_start = 25 July 2007 |
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| term_end = 25 July 2012 |
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|order2 = [[List of Governors of Rajasthan|Governor of Rajasthan]] |
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| predecessor = [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]] |
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| primeminister = [[Manmohan Singh]] |
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| successor = [[Pranab Mukherjee]] |
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|term_start2 = 8 November 2004 |
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| vicepresident = [[Mohammad Hamid Ansari]] |
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| party = [[Indian National Congress]] |
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| order1 = 17th |
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|successor2 = [[A. R. Kidwai|Akhlaqur Rahman Kidwai]] |
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| office1 = Governor of Rajasthan |
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|birth_date = {{bda|1934|12|19|df=y}} |
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| term_start1 = 8 November 2004 |
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| term_end1 = 23 June 2007 |
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|maternel_uncle' |
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| 1blankname1 = Chief Minister |
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name & place = [[Late. Shri. Lakhesinhji P. Raul.]]-[[Sanstha Sindhkheda. Dhule. Maha.]] |
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| 1namedata1 = [[Vasundhara Raje]] |
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|party = [[United Progressive Alliance|UPA]]-[[Indian National Congress|INC]] |
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| predecessor1 = [[Madan Lal Khurana]] |
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| successor1 = [[Akhlaqur Rahman Kidwai]] |
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| order3 = 9th |
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|alma_mater = [[Mooljee Jaitha College, Jalgaon]]<br>[[Government Law College, Mumbai]] |
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| office3 = Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha |
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| term_start3 = 18 November 1986 |
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| term_end3 = 5 November 1988 |
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| predecessor3 = [[M. M. Jacob]] |
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| successor3 = [[Najma Heptulla]] |
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| 1blankname3 = [[Vice President of India|Chairman]] |
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| 1namedata3 = [[Ramaswamy Venkataraman]] (1986–1987)<br>[[Shankar Dayal Sharma]] (1987–1988) |
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| office2 = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament]], [[Lok Sabha]] |
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| term_start2 = 21 June 1991 |
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| term_end2 = 16 May 1996 |
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| constituency2 = [[Amravati (Lok Sabha constituency)|Amravati, Maharashtra]] |
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| predecessor2 = [[Sudam Deshmukh]] |
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| successor2 = [[Anantrao Gudhe]] |
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| office4 = [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha|Member of Parliament]], [[Rajya Sabha]] |
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| term_start4 = 1985 |
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| term_end4 = 1990 |
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| constituency4 = [[List of Rajya Sabha members from Maharashtra|Maharashtra]] |
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| office5 = [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member]] of [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]] |
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| term_start5 = 1978 |
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| term_end5 = 1985 |
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| constituency5 = [[Muktainagar Assembly constituency|Edlabad]] |
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| constituency6 = [[Jalgaon City Assembly constituency|Jalgaon]] |
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| term_start6 = 1962 |
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| term_end6 = 1967 |
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| birth_name = Pratibha Narayan Rao Patil |
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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1934|12|19|df=yes}} |
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| birth_place = [[Nadgaon]], [[Bombay Presidency]], British India {{awrap|(present{{endash}}day Maharashtra, India)}} |
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| spouse = {{marriage|[[Devisingh Ramsingh Shekhawat]]|1965|24 February 2023|reason=died}} |
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| children = 2 |
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| alma_mater = {{ubl|[[Savitribai Phule Pune University|University of Poona]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[Master of Arts|MA]])|[[University of Bombay]] ([[LLB]])}} |
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| nationality = Indian |
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| website = {{URL|pratibhapatil.info}} |
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| parents = |
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| residence = [[Amravati|57, Congress Nagar, Amravati]] |
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}} |
}} |
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'''Pratibha Devisingh Patil''' ({{lang-mr|प्रतिभा देवीसिंह पाटिल}}) (born December 19, 1934) is the current [[President of India|President]] of the Republic of [[India]], the [[List of Presidents of India|12th person]] and [[female president|first woman]] to hold the office. She was sworn in as President of India on [[July 25]], [[2007]], succeeding [[Abdul Kalam|Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam]]. |
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'''Pratibha Devisingh Patil''' (born 19 December 1934), also known as '''Pratibha Patil Shekhawat''',<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ganjapure |first1=Vaibhav |last2=More |first2=Vaidehi |date=11 February 2010 |title=President's kin usurped land, says court |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/presidents-kin-usurped-land-says-court/articleshow/5558900.cms |work=The Economic Times |access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Phadnis |first1=Aditi |date=5 February 2013 |title=Pratibha pitchforked into presidential race |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/pratibha-pitchforked-into-presidential-race-107061501126_1.html |work=Business Times |access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref> is an Indian politician and lawyer who served as the 12th [[president of India]] from 2007 to 2012. She was the [[women in government|first woman]] to become the president of India. A member of the [[Indian National Congress]], she also served as the [[Governor of Rajasthan]] from 2004 to 2007, and was a member of the [[Lok Sabha]] from 1991 to 1996. |
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Patil, a member of the [[Indian National Congress]] (INC), was nominated the ruling [[United Progressive Alliance]] and [[Indian left|Indian Left]]. She won the [[Indian presidential election, 2007|presidential election]] held on [[July 19]] [[2007]] defeating her nearest rival [[Bhairon Singh Shekhawat]] .<ref>{{cite news | title = Patil Poised to Become India's First Female President | author = Bibhudatta Pradhan | publisher = [[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg.com]] | url = http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=aHJhXtWRZ4bA&refer=india | date = [[2007-07-19]] | accessdate = 2007-07-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = High turnout in Presidential poll | author = Anita Joshua | publisher = [[The Hindu]] | url = http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/20/stories/2007072050450100.htm | date = [[2007-07-20]] | accessdate = 2007-07-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Voting for Presidential poll ends | publisher = [[NDTV]] | url = http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070019470&ch=7/19/2007%201:48:00%20PM | date = [[2007-07-19]] | accessdate = 2007-07-20}}</ref> |
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Patil represented [[Edlabad]] constituency in [[Jalgaon District]], [[Maharashtra]] as a member of the [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]] (1962-1985), and was deputy chairwoman of the [[Rajya Sabha]] (1986-1988), [[Member of Parliament]] from [[Amravati]] in the [[Lok Sabha]] (1991-1996), and the 24th, and the first woman [[Governors of Rajasthan|Governor of Rajasthan]] (2004-2007). |
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==Early life== |
==Early life== |
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Patil was born in a [[Marathi people|Marathi]] family<ref>{{cite news |last1=PTI |title=Bal Thackeray: The mascot of Marathi pride |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/bal-thackeray-the-mascot-of-marathi-pride-112111700260_1.html |access-date=28 July 2022 |work=Business Standard India |date=17 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Patel |first=Aakar |date=28 August 2009 |url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/3u2QUPuXBEFPaBQXU2R8mJ/When-will-the-BrahminBania-hegemony-end.html |title=When will the Brahmin-Bania hegemony end? |work=Mint |access-date=7 September 2023}}</ref> on 19 December 1934 in the village of [[Nadgaon]] in [[Jalgaon district|Jalgaon]], [[Maharashtra]]. She was the daughter of Narayan Rao Patil.<ref name=RajAssembly>{{cite web |title=Ex Governor of Rajasthan |url=http://rajassembly.nic.in/PratibhaPatil.htm |publisher=Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Secretariate |access-date=26 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130804130808/http://rajassembly.nic.in/PratibhaPatil.htm |archive-date=4 August 2013}}</ref> She was educated initially at R. R. Vidyalaya town and subsequently was awarded a master's degree in Political Science and Economics by [[Mooljee Jetha College, Jalgaon|Mooljee Jetha College]], [[Jalgaon]] (then under [[Pune University|Poona University]]), and then a Bachelor of Law degree by [[Government Law College, Bombay]], affiliated to the [[University of Bombay]] (now University of Mumbai). Patil then began to practice law at the Jalgaon District Court, while also taking interest in social issues such as improving the conditions faced by Indian women.<ref name=OfficialProfile>{{cite web |title=Profile: President of India |publisher=NIC / President's Secretariat |url=http://india.gov.in/govt/whoswho.php?id=2 |access-date=26 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208101656/http://india.gov.in/govt/whoswho.php?id=2 |archive-date=8 February 2012}}</ref> |
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Pratibha Patil was born to Narayan Rao Patil in [[Nadgaon]], [[Maharashtra]]. She studied at R.R. School at [[Jalgaon]]. She received her [[Master of Arts (postgraduate)|MA]] from Mooljee Jaitha (M.J.) College, Jalgaon (affiliated to North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon) and obtained a law degree from the [[Government Law College, Mumbai]] (affiliated to University of Bombay). One of her colleagues and close friends at the University of Bombay, Nishant Raina, introduced her to [[table tennis]], a sport she excelled in, winning various inter-college tournaments.<ref>[http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/lok10/mp532.htm Biographical Sketch Member of Parliament X Lok Sabha]</ref> In 1962, Pratibha Patil was voted "College Queen" of M.J. College.<ref>{{cite news |
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| title = From college "queen" hahaha to future President |
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| author = Tare, Kiran |
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| publisher = [[Mid-Day]], Mumbai |
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| url = http://www.mid-day.com/news/nation/2007/june/159342.htm |
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| date = 2007-06-15 |
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| accessdate = 2007-06-15 |
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}}</ref> The same year, she won an assembly election from [[Edlabad]] constituency on the [[Indian National Congress]] ticket. |
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Patil married [[Devisingh Ramsingh Shekhawat]] on 7 July 1965. The couple has a daughter, Jyoti Rathore and a son, [[Raosaheb Shekhawat]], who is also a politician.<ref name=RajAssembly /><ref>{{cite news |title=In Amravati, it's about taking revenge for 2009 polls |first=Kunal |last=Purohit |work=Hindustan Times |date=11 October 2014 |url=http://www.hindustanitimes.com/india/in-amravati-it-is-about-taking-revenge-for-2009-polls/story-CaoFU6bvG2TS6tYEUdCGTJ.html |access-date=11 January 2016}}</ref> |
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She married educator [[Devisingh Ramsingh Shekhawat]] on [[July 7]], [[1965]].<ref>{{cite news |
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| title = Biography of Mrs Pratibha Patil |
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| publisher = indiastudychannel.com |
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| url = http://www.indiastudychannel.com/resources/98-Pratibha-Patil-Biodata-Biography.aspx |
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| accessdate = 2007-06-16 |
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}}</ref> The couple have a son and daughter. |
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==Political career== |
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== Philanthropic foundations == |
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In 1962, at the age of 27, she was elected to the [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]] for the [[Jalgaon City (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Jalgaon constituency]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Ritu Singh|title=President Pratibha Patil: India's First Woman President|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pk5osTwvBPcC|year=2007|publisher=Rajpal & Sons|isbn=978-81-7028-705-6|page=52}}</ref> After that she won in the [[Muktainagar (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Muktainagar]] (formerly Edlabad) constituency on four consecutive occasions between 1967 and 1985, before becoming a [[Member of Parliament]] in the [[Rajya Sabha]] between 1985 and 1990. In the [[1991 Indian general election|1991 elections]] for the [[10th Lok Sabha]], she was elected as a Member of Parliament representing the [[Amravati (Lok Sabha constituency)|Amravati constituency]].<ref name=OfficialProfile /> A period of retirement from politics followed later in the decade.<ref name=BBC20070721>{{cite news |publisher=BBC |title=Profile: Pratibha Patil |date=21 July 2007 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/6910097.stm |access-date=26 June 2012}}</ref> |
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Together with her husband, she set up an educational institute, Vidya Bharati Shikshan Prasarak Mandal, which runs a chain of schools and colleges in Jalgaon and Mumbai.<ref name="toi_2007_resume">[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Pratibha_Patils_Resume/articleshow/2218456.cms Pratibha Patil's Resume]. The Times of India. July 19, 2007.</ref> She has also set up [[Shram Sadhana Trust]] that runs hostels for working women in New Delhi, Mumbai and Pune and an engineering college in Jalgaon.<ref name="toi_2007_resume"/> She also founded and was the chairwoman of a cooperative sugar factory known as [[Sant Muktabai Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana]] and a cooperative bank named after herself as [[Pratibha Mahila Sahakari Bank]]. She was also involved in setting up an Industrial Training School for the visually challenged in Jalgaon and running a school for poor children of Vimukta Jatis and [[Nomadic tribe]]s.{{Fact|date=January 2008}} |
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Patil had held various Cabinet portfolios during her period in the [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]] and held official positions in both the [[Rajya Sabha]] and [[Lok Sabha]]. In addition, she had been the president of the [[Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee]] for a few years. Also, she held office as Director of the National Federation of Urban Co-operative Banks and Credit Societies and as a Member of the Governing Council of the National Co-operative Union of India.<ref name=RajAssembly /> |
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== Political career == |
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On 8 November 2004 she was appointed the 17th [[List of governors of Rajasthan|Governor of Rajasthan]],<ref>{{cite web |url= http://rajassembly.nic.in/govphoto.htm |title= Former Governors of Rajasthan |publisher= Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Secretariat |access-date= 26 June 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120417094946/http://www.rajassembly.nic.in/govphoto.htm |archive-date= 17 April 2012 |url-status= dead }}</ref> the first woman to hold that office.<ref name=NDTV20070614 /> |
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Pratibha Patil began her political career in 1962 at the age of 27. Under the mentorship of senior Congress leaders like Dr Abasaheb Gopalrao Khedkar and ex-Chief Minister [[Yashwantrao Chavan]],<ref name="indexp">{{cite news |
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| title = Pratibha's CV says it all: She backed Indira 'n was backed by Rajiv |
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| author = Ravish Tiwari / Mahesh Mhatre |
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| publisher = [[Indian Express]] |
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| url = http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=88187 |
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| date = [[2007-06-15]] |
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| accessdate = 2007-06-15 |
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}}</ref> she became a deputy minister for education after re-election in 1967 (in the [[Vasantrao Naik]] ministry). In her next terms (1972-78) she was a full cabinet minister for the state. In successive congress governments, she handled the portfolios of tourism, social welfare and housing under several chief ministers, [[Vasantdada Patil]], Babasaheb Bhosle, [[S. B. Chavan]] and [[Sharad Pawar]]. She was continually re-elected to the assembly, either from [[Jalgaon]] or the nearby [[Edlabad]] constituencies, until 1985, when she was elected to the [[Rajya Sabha]] as a Congress candidate. She has never lost an election that she has contested.<ref name="rediff">{{cite news |
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| title = Profile: UPA President nominee Pratibha Patil |
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| author = [[Rediff.com]] |
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| publisher = Tabrez Khan in Mumbai |
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| url = http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jun/14prez10.htm |
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| date = [[2007-06-14]] |
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| accessdate = 2007-06-15 |
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}}</ref> |
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==Presidential election== |
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In 1977, the Congress party split up after [[Indira Nehru Gandhi]]'s defeat following the [[Indian Emergency (1975–1977)]]. Many senior leaders of state [[Congress(I)]], including Pratibha's mentor Chavan and his protege [[Sharad Pawar]], as well as much of the rank and file joined the [[Congress (Urs)]] party floated by [[Devraj Urs]]. However, Pratibha preferred to remain with [[Indira Gandhi]], though it verged on inviting political ridicule. In fact, few know that Pratibha managed Indira Gandhi's kitchen when [[Sanjay Gandhi]] died.<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Pratibha_Patils_Resume/rssarticleshow/2218456.cms Times of India, July 19th, 2007]</ref> She protested the arrest of [[Indira Gandhi]] in December 1977 and spent 10 days in prison.<ref>[http://www.mid-day.com/news/city/2007/june/159447.htm Mid-Day - Mumbai News, Mumbai City News: Share & get involved with news from Mumbai as it happens<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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{{Main|2007 Indian presidential election}} |
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In 1978, when the Congress (Urs) came to power in Maharashtra, she became [[Opposition (parliamentary)|Leader of the Opposition]] in the state assembly. |
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[[File:The Chief Justice of India Shri K.G. Balakrishnan administering the oath of the office of the President of India to Smt. Pratibha Patil at a swearing-in ceremony in the central hall of Parliament, in New Delhi.jpg|thumb|left|The Chief Justice of India [[K. G. Balakrishnan]] administering the oath of the office of the President of India to Pratibha Patil at a swearing-in ceremony in the central hall of Parliament, in New Delhi.]] |
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Patil was announced as the [[United Progressive Alliance]] (UPA) candidate on 14 June 2007. She emerged as a compromise candidate after the left-wing parties of the alliance would not agree to the nomination of former [[Minister of Home Affairs (India)|Home Minister]] [[Shivraj Patil]] or [[Karan Singh]].<ref name=NDTV20070614>{{cite news |url=http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070015515&ch=6/14/2007%206:54:00%20PM |title=Prez polls: Sonia announces Pratibha Patil's name |publisher=NDTV |date=14 June 2007 |access-date=3 July 2012}}</ref> Patil had been loyal to the INC and the [[Nehru–Gandhi family]] for decades and this was considered to be a significant factor in her selection by INC leader [[Sonia Gandhi]], although Patil said that she had no intention of being a "rubber-stamp president".<ref name=BBC20070721 /><ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1103782 |work=Daily News & Analysis |title=I will not be a rubber stamp President |date=16 June 2007 |agency=PTI |access-date=11 January 2016}}</ref> |
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In 1980, the Congress (I) swept back into power, and her name was considered a front-runner for the Chief Minister's post. However, the post went to [[Sanjay Gandhi]]'s confidant [[A. R. Antulay]], who was soon forced to resign on corruption charges. Subsequently, she became a minister again in the [[Vasantdada Patil]] ministry. Following differences between Patil and then Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief [[Prabha Rau]], Rajiv Gandhi appointed her as MPCC chief (1988-90). |
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In the same month that she was selected as a member of the UPA, Patil was accused of shielding her brother, G. N. Patil, in the 2005 [[Vishram Patil murder case]]. Vishram Patil had narrowly defeated G. N. Patil in an election to be the President of the District Congress Committee of Jalgaon and in September of that year had been murdered. Vishram Patil's widow eventually accused G. N. Patil of involvement in the crime and claimed that Pratibha Patil had influenced the criminal investigation and that the issue needed to be examined before presidential immunity became active.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/story/160239.html |title=Congman's wife drags Pratibha name into allegations, NDA distances itself |date=22 June 2007 |work=The Indian Express |access-date=10 January 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830100549/http://www.indianexpress.com/story/160239.html |archive-date=30 August 2008 }}</ref> Her accusations were rejected by the courts in 2009<ref>{{cite news |agency=IANS |work=Thaindian |url=http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/court-dismisses-lawsuit-against-presidents-brother_100287917.html |date=11 December 2009 |title=Court dismisses lawsuit against president's brother |access-date=10 January 2016 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305014253/http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/court-dismisses-lawsuit-against-presidents-brother_100287917.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> but in 2015 G. N. Patil was charged. No reference to the alleged involvement of Pratibha Patil was made at this time.<ref>{{cite news |title=Court summons brother of Pratibha Patil in murder case |date=8 July 2014 |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/court-summons-brother-of-pratibha-patil-in-murder-case/#sthash.y82k7pVV.dpuf |work=The Indian Express |access-date=10 January 2016}}</ref> |
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===Tenure at Centre=== |
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Due to the presidential role being largely a [[figurehead]] position, the selection of the candidate is often arranged by consensus among the various political parties and the candidate runs unopposed.<ref>{{cite news |title = Patil Poised to Become India's First Female President |first=Bibhudatta |last=Pradhan |publisher=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=aHJhXtWRZ4bA&refer=india |date=19 July 2007 |access-date=2 July 2012}}</ref> Contrary to the normal pattern of events, Patil faced a challenge in the election. The BBC described the situation as "the latest casualty of the country's increasingly partisan politics and [it] highlights what is widely seen as an acute crisis of leadership". It "degenerated into unseemly mudslinging between the ruling party and the opposition".<ref name=BBC20070713 /> Her challenger was [[Bhairon Singh Shekhawat]], the incumbent vice-president and a [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) veteran. Shekhawat stood as an independent candidate and was supported by the [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]] (NDA), a group led by the BJP,<ref name=BBC20070719>{{cite news |date=19 July 2007 |publisher=BBC |title=Indian MPs vote for new president |access-date=2 July 2012 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6905905.stm}}</ref> although the [[Shiv Sena (1966–2022)|Shiv Sena]] party, which was a part of NDA, supported her because of her [[Marathi people|Marathi]] origin.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/26/stories/2007062651100100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629015754/http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/26/stories/2007062651100100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 June 2007 |title=Shiv Sena backs Pratibha Patil |first=Meena |last=Menon |date=26 June 2007 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=4 February 2014}}</ref> |
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In 123 Patil was elected to the [[Rajya Sabha]], and served as its deputy chairperson from November 1986 to November 1988. Her term expired in April 1990. The following year, in the elections when [[Rajiv Gandhi]] was assassinated she won the election for the [[10th Lok Sabha]] from [[Amravati]] constituency, her husband's city, where he had once been mayor, thus first time entering in lower house of national parliament Lok Sabha. |
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Those opposed to Patil becoming president claimed that she lacked charisma, experience, and ability. They also highlighted her time spent away from high-level politics and queried her belief in the supernatural, such as her claim to have received a message from [[Dada Lekhraj]], a dead [[guru]].<ref name=BBC20070721 /><ref name=BBC20070713 /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Pratibha_believes_in_spirits/articleshow/2152156.cms |title=Pratibha believes in spirits? |work=The Times of India |date=27 June 2007 |first=Himanshi |last=Dhawan |access-date=11 January 2016}}</ref> Various specific issues were raised, such as a comment made by her in 1975 that those suffering from hereditary diseases should be sterilised.<ref name=BBC20070721 /> Another alleged that while a Member of Parliament for [[Amravati Lok Sabha constituency|Amravati]] she diverted Rs 3.6 million from her [[MPLADS]] fund to a trust run by her husband. This was in violation of Government rules which barred MPs from providing funds to organisations run by their relatives.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1107938 |work=DNA |title=Now, a land grab haunts Patil |date=4 July 2007 |access-date=11 January 2016}}</ref> The parliamentary affairs minister denied any wrongdoing on Patil's part and noted that the funds are used under [[Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme|MPLADS]], by the [[Comptroller and Auditor General of India]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/story/203981.html |title=For family again: Patil's MP funds for sports complex on land leased to husband society |work=Indian Express |date=6 July 2007 |access-date=11 January 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012221143/http://www.indianexpress.com/story/203981.html |archive-date=12 October 2007 }}</ref> |
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She has also served as Director of National Federation of Urban Co-operative Banks & Credit Societies and the Member of Governing Council, National Co-operative, Union of India. |
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Patil won the election held on 19 July 2007. She garnered nearly two-thirds of the votes<ref>{{cite news |title=First female president for India |date=21 July 2007 |publisher=BBC |access-date=3 July 2012 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6909979.stm}}</ref> and, on 25 July 2007, took oath as India's [[Presidency of Pratibha Patil|12th President]], the first woman to hold the position.<ref name="CBS">{{cite web |last=Reals |first=Tucker |date=21 July 2007 |title=India's First Woman President Elected |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/indias-first-woman-president-elected/ |access-date=30 July 2015 |website=CBS News}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Turner |first1=B. |title=The Statesman's Yearbook 2009: The Politics, Cultures and Economies of the World |date=12 January 2017 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-1-349-74027-7 |page=605 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ipPlDQAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref> |
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===Governor of Rajasthan=== |
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[[Image:Pratibha Patil 2.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Pratibha Patil as [[Governor of Rajasthan]]]] |
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In November 2004, eight years after she had completed her term in the [[10th Lok Sabha]], Pratibha Patil was recalled from political hibernation<ref name="rediff"/> to become the first woman [[Governor of Rajasthan]]. She was the second politician from [[Maharashtra]] in this post, the first being [[Vasantdada Patil]]. With Pratibha Patil as Governor, Rajasthan had women in three significant positions of power in the state, including [[Chief Minister]] [[Vasundhara Raje]] and Assembly Speaker [[Sumitra Singh]].<ref>{{cite news |
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| title= Rajasthan gets its first woman Governor |
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|publisher = [[The Hindu]] |
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| date = [[2004-11-29]] |
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| url= http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2004/11/09/stories/2004110909760500.htm |
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|accessdate = 2007-06-15 |
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}}</ref> |
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==Presidency == |
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In April 2006, the [[Rajasthan Legislative Assembly]] passed the Rajasthan Freedom of Religion Bill 2006 (originally titled as "Rajasthan Dharma Swatantrya Bill, 2006"). The objective of the bill was to control "unlawful conversion from one religion to another by allurement or by fraudulent means or forcibly." However, some [[Christian]] organizations opposed the bill alleging that the bill was an outcome of the rightist policies of [[Sangh Parivar]].<ref>[http://www.hindu.com/2006/04/14/stories/2006041416450300.htm Governor urged not to give assent to religion Bill], [[The Hindu]], [[2006-04-14]]</ref><ref name=autogenerated1>[http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1645158.cms Rajasthan anti-conversion bill sent back to Governor]</ref> Pratibha Patil returned the bill unsigned, stating certain clauses in the Bill infringed on "the [[fundamental rights]] such as [[freedom of speech]] and [[freedom of expression|expression]], freedom of conscience and freedom to profess, practice and propagate religion."<ref>[http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/20/stories/2006062013900300.htm Suspense over the fate of Religious Freedom Bill], The Hindu, 2006-06-20.</ref> |
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[[File:The President, Smt. Pratibha Patil addressing the Nation on the eve of 61st Independence Day, in New Delhi on August 14, 2007.jpg|thumb|President Patil addressing the Indians on the eve of Independence Day, 2007]] |
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[[File:The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil with Queen Elizabeth II and Duke of Edinburgh before the State Banquet hosted by The Queen Elizabeth-II at Windsor Castle, in London on October 27, 2009.jpg|thumb|President Patil and her husband with the [[Elizabeth II|Queen]] and [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Prince Philip]] at [[Windsor Castle]], 2009]] |
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Patil's term as the President of India saw various controversies and is widely considered as lackluster.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/president-pratibha-patils-brush-with-controversy/248154-3.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415060824/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/president-pratibha-patils-brush-with-controversy/248154-3.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 April 2012 |title=President Pratibha Patil's brush with controversy |work=IBN Live |date=12 April 2012 |access-date=14 April 2013}}</ref> She [[commutation (law)|commuted]] death sentences of 35 petitioners to life, a record. President's Office, however, defended this by saying that President had granted clemency to the petitioners after due consideration and examining the advice of the Home Ministry.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/President-defends-mercy-spree-to-death-row-convicts/articleshow/14400295.cms| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922230404/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-26/india/32424345_1_death-row-convicts-clemency-home-minister| url-status=live| archive-date=22 September 2013| work=[[The Times of India]]|title=President defends mercy spree to death row convicts |date=26 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/President-Pratibha-Patil-goes-on-mercy-overdrive/articleshow/14330594.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605212805/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-22/india/32367604_1_pardons-mercy-petitions-molai-ram |url-status=live |archive-date=5 June 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]] |title=President Pratibha Patil goes on mercy overdrive |date=22 June 2012}}</ref> |
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The Government of Rajasthan re-sent the bill to her in May 2006 noting that similar anti-conversion laws enacted by Congress governments in [[Madhya Pradesh]] and [[Orissa]] over 40 years ago were upheld by the [[Supreme Court of India]] and that the head of the Constituent Assembly, Dr [[B R Ambedkar]], while drafting Article 25 of the Constitution had said that it would be best to leave it to the state legislatures to make laws to regulate conversions.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> After sitting on the bill for over a year she sent it to the [[President of India]] just a day before she resigned as governor of Rajasthan.<ref>[http://www.nagalandpost.com/Nationaldesc.asp?sectionid=41479 Pratibha gives Religious Bill to President], ''Nagaland Post'', [[2007-06-20]], accessed on [[2007-07-09]]</ref> A similar bill named [[Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act 2006]] passed later was promptly signed by the state governor. |
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Pratibha Patil resigned as the Governor of Rajasthan on June 21, 2007, due to her presidential candidacy.<ref>[http://www.centralchronicle.com/20070622/2206001.htm "Match over, now: Left rejects second term for Kalam"], ''Central Chronicle'', June 21, 2007.</ref> |
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Patil was noted for having spent more money on foreign trips, and having taken a greater number of foreign trips, than any previous president.<ref>{{cite news|title=President Patil's foreign trips cost Rs 205 crore|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/president-patil-s-foreign-trips-cost-rs-205-crore/928306/|access-date=21 September 2013|newspaper=The Indian Express|date=26 March 2012}}</ref> Sometimes accompanied by as many as 11 members of her family, there had been 12 foreign trips spanning 22 countries by May 2012, when she was away on her 13th trip. Those completed travels had cost Rs 205 [[crore]] (Rs 2.05 billion). The [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|Ministry of External Affairs]] said that taking family members "was not abnormal".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Pratibha-Patil-took-up-to-11-relatives-on-18-trips-in-a-year/articleshow/12973357.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724025254/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-05-03/india/31555921_1_foreign-trips-president-pratibha-patil-travel |url-status=live |archive-date=24 July 2013 |title=Pratibha Patil took up to 11 relatives on 18 trips in a year |first=Himanshi |last=Dhawan |date=3 May 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=10 January 2016}}</ref> |
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== Nomination for Presidential Election 2007 == |
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{{Main|Indian presidential election, 2007}} |
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The Office of President has a five-year term<ref name=BBC20070713>{{cite news |publisher=BBC |access-date=3 July 2012 |date=13 July 2007 |title=India's muckraking presidential poll |first=Soutik |last=Biswas |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6294238.stm}}</ref> and Patil retired from the role in July 2012.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pratibha Patil gets retirement home in Pune |first=Alka |last=Kshirsagar |date=25 June 2012 |work=Business Line |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/economy/article3569095.ece |access-date=26 June 2012}}</ref> |
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On 14 June, [[United Progressive Alliance]] (UPA), the ruling alliance of political parties in India headed by [[Congress (I)]], and the [[Indian left]] nominated her as their candidate for the Presidential Election to be held on [[19 July]] [[2007]].<ref>[http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070015515&ch=6/14/2007%206:54:00%20PM Prez polls: Sonia announces Pratibha Patil's name, [[NDTV]] ]</ref> She emerged as a compromise candidate after the Left parties would not agree to the nomination of past [[Home Minister]] [[Shivraj Patil]]. At that point, [[Sonia Gandhi]] proposed Pratibha Patil's name. Her loyalty to [[Nehru-Gandhi family]] was widely perceived to be a major factor in her nomination as UPA-Left Presidential candidate.<ref name=autogenerated2>[http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1103782 DNA - India - I will not be a rubber stamp President: Pratibha Patil - Daily News & Analysis<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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As a result of the potential that she would become the first female [[President of India]], UPA Chairwoman Sonia Gandhi described her nomination as a "historic occasion" in India's 60th year of independence. |
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Patil allegedly used public funds to build a retirement mansion on a {{convert|260000|sqft|m2}} plot of military land in [[Pune]]. Tradition is that a retiring president either takes residence in Government accommodation in Delhi or moves back to their residence in their home state; her use of government money to build a retirement home at the end of the presidential term was unprecedented.<ref>{{cite news|work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Pratibhas-Pune-home-a-break-from-tradition/articleshow/12668229.cms |title=Pratibha's Pune home a break from tradition |first=Josy |last=Joseph |date=15 April 2012 |access-date=10 January 2016}}</ref> Other controversies that arose after her retirement included her desire to claim both an official government car and fuel allowance for the running of a private car, despite rules clearly stipulating that this was an either/or situation. She also took possession of many gifts that had been given to her in her official role and was later forced to return them.<ref>{{cite news |first=D. P. |last=Satish |title=Former President Pratibha Patil wants both car & fuel from government |date=29 July 2015|work=IBN Live |url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/former-president-pratibha-patil-wants-both-car-fuel-from-government-1027151.html |access-date=11 January 2016}}</ref> |
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Before leaving [[Jaipur]] for [[New Delhi]], she thanked Sonia Gandhi for choosing her and said that her first job as president would be to make [[National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA)]] started by UPA a success.<ref>[http://www.ibnlive.com/news/politics/06_2007/prez-potential-ready-for-challenge-42910.html I'm grateful to Sonia: Pratibha Patil]</ref> In Delhi she asserted that she would not be a rubber stamp president.<ref name=autogenerated2 /> |
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==Business interests== |
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Accompanied by Prime Minister [[Dr. Manmohan Singh]] and Congress chief [[Sonia Gandhi]] she filed her nomination on 23 June which was found to be valid after scrutiny. She faced [[Bhairon Singh Shekhawat]], an NDA supported candidate, in a straight contest, and visited state capitals to garner support. Her campaign got a major boost with decision of [[UNPA]] to abstain from voting. |
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Patil set up Vidya Bharati Shikshan Prasarak Mandal, an educational institute which runs a chain of schools and colleges in [[Amravati]], [[Jalgaon]], [[Pune]] and [[Mumbai]]. She also set up [[Shram Sadhana Trust]], which runs hostels for working women in [[New Delhi]], [[Mumbai]] and [[Pune]]; and an engineering college for rural students in [[Jalgaon district]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Pratibha-Patils-Resume/articleshow/2218456.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130818230005/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-07-19/india/27975570_1_jalgaon-maharashtra-assembly-political-party |url-status=live |archive-date=18 August 2013 |title=Pratibha Patil's Resume |date=19 July 2007 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=11 January 2016}}</ref> She also co-founded a cooperative sugar factory known as [[Sant Muktabai Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana]] at [[Muktainagar]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/FullcoverageStoryPage.aspx?id=96c7cdbd-9376-4f62-89c3-4571eccd8857Who%20will%20be%20India's%20next%20President_Special&&Headline=Pratibha-founded+unit+gets+bank+notice |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930061006/http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/FullcoverageStoryPage.aspx?id=96c7cdbd-9376-4f62-89c3-4571eccd8857Who%20will%20be%20India's%20next%20President_Special&&Headline=Pratibha-founded+unit+gets+bank+notice |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 September 2007 |work=Hindustan Times |title=Pratibha-founded sugar unit owes bank Rs 17.70 cr |date=30 September 2007 }}</ref> |
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In addition, Patil founded a cooperative bank, [[Pratibha Mahila Sahakari Bank]], that ceased trading in February 2003 when its licence was cancelled by the [[Reserve Bank of India]]. Among other failings, the bank had given illegal loans to her relatives that exceeded the bank's share capital. It had also given a loan to her sugar mill which was never repaid. The bank waived these loans, and this drove it into liquidation. The government liquidator of the bank, P. D. Nigam, said, "The fact that relatives of the founder chairperson (Pratibha Patil) were among those indiscriminately granted loans and that some illegal loan waivers were done has come up in our audit." Six of the top ten defaulters in the bank were linked to her relatives. The INC claimed that Patil had not been involved with the bank since 1994 but ''[[The Indian Express]]'' reported that it had official documents showing her involvement as late as 2002.<ref>{{cite news |title=Patil was aware of her bank mess, top defaulters her kin |first=Ritu |last=Sarin |date=26 June 2007 |work=The Indian Express |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/patil-was-aware-of-her-bank-mess-top-defaulters-her-kin-/202794/ |access-date=10 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://rbidocs.rbi.org.in/rdocs/Publications/PDFs/73892.pdf |title=Report on Trend and Progress of Banking in India, 2005–06: Appendix Table IV.3: Urban Co-operative Banks Under Liquidation |page=328 (5) |publisher=Reserve Bank of India |access-date=5 July 2012}}</ref> |
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The [[Opposition (parliamentary)|Leader of the Opposition]] [[L K Advani]] sought intervention of [[Election Commission of India]] to get Pratibha Patil to declare her assets,<ref>[http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200707021201.htm The Hindu News Update Service<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> but this was rejected by the Commission. |
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==Positions held== |
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[[Shiv Sena]], an important ally of NDA, declared its support to Pratibha Patil on the grounds that she will be the first [[Maharashtrian]] to hold this prestigious post. This decision of Shiv Sena created trouble in BJP-Sena alliance.<ref>[http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/26/stories/2007062651100100.htm The Hindu : Front Page : Shiv Sena backs Pratibha Patil<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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Pratibha Patil has held various official offices during her career. These are:<ref name=RajAssembly /> |
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{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em;" |
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==President== |
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|- |
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{{Infobox President styles |
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|image=[[Image:Emblem of India.svg|75px]] |
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|name=Pratibha Patil |
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|dipstyle= Her Excellency Pratibha Patil, President of the Republic India |
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|offstyle= President Patil |
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|altstyle= Madame President |
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}} |
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[[Image:Dmitry Medvedev in [[New Delhi]] 4-5 December 2008-10.jpg|thumb|Patil with [[President of Russia]] [[Dmitry Medvedev]] in India on 5 December 2008.]] |
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She won the [[Indian presidential election, 2007|presidential election]] held on [[July 19]] [[2007]] defeating her nearest rival [[Bhairon Singh Shekhawat]] by over 300,000 votes. She took office as India's first female president on [[July 25]], [[2007]]. |
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{{Expand-section|date=June 2008}} |
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== Controversies == |
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===Falling Short of her Predecessor=== |
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Former Indian President Dr. [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]] had set very high standards for his [[successor]]. Even before he was elected as President, Dr. Kalam was known for his illustrious past as a [[scientist]], [[innovator]] and [[visionary]]. During his term as President, he endeared himself to people of all ages and came to be known as the 'People's President' or the humble 'President of the masses'. While in office, he constantly sought ways to transform [[India]] into a knowledge superpower using [[science]] and [[technology]]. His [[vision]] for India advocated an action plan to develop India into a knowledge superpower and into a developed nation by the year [[2020]].<ref>A.P.J.Abdul Kalam - The President of the masses http://living.oneindia.in/celebrity/other-celebrities/kalam-indian-president.html</ref> |
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In comparison, there were several questions raised about Pratibha Patil's credibility even before she was elected as President, as her name and that of her family members figured in several financial scams and other [[crimes]].<ref>Why a President with criminal antecedents? http://newstodaynet.com/2007sud/jun07/290607.htm</ref><ref>Not my President, June 27, 2007 http://www.ipatrix.com/pratibha-patil-not-my-president/</ref><ref>More on the Jalgaon case and Pratibha Patil, October 14, 2008 |
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http://offstumped.nationalinterest.in/2008/10/14/more-on-the-jalgaon-case-and-pratibha-patil/ |
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</ref><ref>Profile of Pratibha Patil http://www.nilacharal.com/enter/celeb/PratibhaPatil.asp |
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</ref> Even after being elected as President, Pratibha Patil is more in the news for her bungle ups and matters irrelevant to the country, than for her efficiency as Head of the Nation. Forgetting to salute to the [[Indian flag]] at a ceremonial [[reception]] for her in [[Mexico]],<ref>President of India insults the Indian flag, April 18, 2008 http://nitinalabur.blogspot.com/2008/04/president-of-india-insults-indian-flag.html</ref> having conversations with spirits of the dead,<ref>Pratibha Patil in godman controversy, NDTV.com, June 26, 2007 http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070016795</ref><ref>Pratibha Patil on speaking to a ghost http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=YlbHh404-Xg</ref><ref>Pratibha Patil on speaking to a ghost http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=YlbHh404-Xg</ref> insulting remarks on [[Indian culture]] and [[tradition]],<ref>Divine guidance for Presidents, My India Report, January 24, 2008 http://www.myindiareport.in/tag/pratibha-patil/</ref> and regular, expensive, state sponsored holiday trips with more than a dozen family members.<ref>Pratibha Patil, family arrive in Shimla, Express India, May 28, 2008 http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Pratibha-Patil-family-arrive-in-Shimla/315312/</ref> At a holiday trip in the [[Andaman islands]], more than 400 trees were chopped to make way for a helipad for the President's chopper and another 60 trees were felled as they would block the President's view of the beach.<ref>Trees felled for Presidential visit, My India Report, December 26, 2007 http://www.myindiareport.in/2007/12/26/trees-felled-for-presidential-visit/#more-351</ref> |
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Referring to her largely ceremonial post, President Pratibha Patil had stated that she will not be a '[[rubber stamp]]' President<ref>I won't be a rubber stamp President: Pratibha Patil, NDTV. Com, June 16, 2007 http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070015681</ref><ref>I am no rubber stamp: Patil, IBN Live, June 16, 2007 http://ibnlive.in.com/news/i-am-no-rubber-stamp-patil/43042-3.html?from=search-relatedstories</ref> but her accomplishments so far, have not accorded her a stamp of approval from the people.<ref>Pratibha Patil - wrong candidate for wrong reasons, Mutiny, June 23, 2007 http://mutiny.in/2007/06/23/pratibha-patil-wrong-candidate-for-wrong-reasons/</ref><ref>Celebrating Pratibha Patil, July 19, 2007, India Uncut http://www.indiauncut.com/iublog/article/celebrating-pratibha-patil/</ref> |
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===BJP's campaign=== |
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Since Pratibha Patil's nomination as a presidential candidate, [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) have highlighted her past activities and made comments as part of its political campaign against her. |
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BJP leader [[Arun Shourie]] authored two articles published as a booklet titled 'Does This Tainted Person Deserve to Become President of India?'.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1107977|title=Pratibha Patil fails to impress Arun Shourie|publisher=[[DNA (newspaper)|DNA]]|accessdate=2007-07-21|date=2007-07-04|author=Jerath, Arati R}}</ref> Another BJP leader, [[Arun Jaitley]], announced the launch of a website called [[Know Pratibha Patil]], which contains various media reports and documents concerning the questionable financial dealings of both Patil and her family.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1109218|title=War against Patil becomes public|publisher=[[DNA (newspaper)|DNA]]|accessdate=2007-07-21|date=2007-07-10|author=Benedict, Kay and Sanjay Singh}}</ref> The campaign generated a lot of media attention on Pratibha Patil as a controversial and unworthy presidential candidate.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} |
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While the BJP has been trying to build a strong public opinion against her, it clarified that it was not challenging her nomination on legal grounds.<ref>{{cite news |title=NDA's legal ploy fails, aims moral fire at Pratibha |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1107322 |author=Sanjay Singh |publisher=[[DNA (newspaper)|DNA]] |date=2007-07-02 |accessdate=2007-07-21}}</ref> |
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=== Legal challenges to candidature === |
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An advocate Manohar Lal Sharma has filed a [[Public Interest Litigation]] before a bench of [[Supreme Court of India]] comprising Justice Tarun Chatterjee and Justice P K Balasubramanyan challenging her nomination for the presidential election 2007. The advocate has referred to the various allegations against Patil and her family members and sought the cancellation of her nomination papers on the ground of her being an undischarged insolvent. The petitioner raised legal and constitutional questions on whether a person declared to be an 'undischarged insolvent', for not clearing a debt to the public exchequer and others, was eligible to be elected president.<ref>[http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200707021101.htm The Hindu News Update Service<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://newspostindia.com/report-5768 Patil Faces Legal Hurdles Before Presidential Election (NIGHT LEAD) | News Post India<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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The apex court however observed that it could not act on mere allegations, and rejected the petition at the admission stage<ref name="pil">Another PIL filed against Pratibha [http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/13/stories/2007071360831600.htm The Hindu - 13th, July 2007]</ref> itself. The court said there was no merit in the petition as there was no document to substantiate the allegations<ref> SC rejects anti-Pratibha PIL; UPA-Left now raring to go [http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=169014 The Financial Express - July 04, 2007]</ref> and raised doubts about the petitioners real intention adding it was more of a "private interest litigation".<ref name="rediffpil">[http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jul/03prezpoll.htm Supreme Court dismisses PIL against Pratibha Patil<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The court ruled: |
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{{cquote| ''This petition is filed under Article 32 of the Constitution. We find no ground to interfere and exercise our jurisdiction. However, this will not prevent the petitioner from approaching appropriate authorities for redressal of his grievances.''<ref name="rediffpil">Judgement quote</ref>}} |
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The advocate then approached the [[Election Commission of India]] seeking her disqualification. The Election Commission, through an order, replied: |
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{{cquote| ''The question whether a person has become insolvent and whether he/she is still an undischarged insolvent has to be decided by the competent insolvency court under the provisions of the Provincial Insolvency Act, 1920, and not by the Commission. The Commission is not the appropriate forum. No action is called for on the part of the Commission on your representation.''<ref name="pil">Election Commission quote</ref>}} |
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Following this, the advocate again approached the court and filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) before a bench comprising Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice R.V. Raveendran. He contended that the Election Commission had not applied its mind to the matter, and sought quashing of the commission's order.<ref name="pil">Another PIL</ref> |
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In another case a Delhi-based NGO has also filed a petition before the [[Delhi High Court]] alleging that Patil being Managing Trustee of Mumbai-based Shram Sadhana Bombay Trust, which is under the control of state government, was holding the [[office of profit]] making her ineligible to contest the President's election.<ref>[http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200707022127.htm Petitions before SC & HC against Pratibha Patil]. [[The Hindu]]</ref> The High Court deferred the hearing until after election. |
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=== Refutation=== |
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The leaders of [[Indian National Congress]] and [[Indian left]] say that these facts highlighted are a clever mixture of truth, half-truths and exaggerations.<ref>The Runaway Presidential Campaign [http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/14/stories/2007071454351200.htm The Hindu - July 14, 2007]</ref> They have also said that these issues have never been raised in the past while she was a deputy chairwoman of the [[Rajya Sabha]], or during her tenure as a governor. They accused the BJP of launching a "malicious, unsubstantiated and deliberate" slanderous campaign just to damage her reputation.<ref>[http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/25/stories/2007062559040100.htm RSS, BJP desperate: CPI (M)] The Hindu - June 25, 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.newkerala.com/news5.php?action=fullnews&id=42852 NCP blasts BJP for anti-Pratibha campaign] New Kerala. Kune 28, 2007</ref><ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/UPA_criticises_BJP-RSS_campaign_against_Pratibha/articleshow/2157202.cms UPA criticises BJP-RSS campaign against Pratibha]. Times of India - June 28, 2007</ref> Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]] defended Pratibha Patil and dismissed the charges as "mud-slinging".<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Muck_refuses_to_move_from_Pratibha_path/articleshow/2155230.cms Muck refuses to move from Pratibha path-India-The Times of India<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> On Monday 2 July 2007 breaking her long silence Pratibha Patil described the allegations leveled against her as "false, malicious and baseless".<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Patil_Charges_false_baseless/articleshow/2165672.cms Patil: Charges false, baseless-India-The Times of India<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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Prominent allegations against her that have been controversial are: |
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==== Allegations of shielding her brother on a murder charge ==== |
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{{Main|Vishram Patil murder case}} |
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On June 22, 2007, Rajni Patil, a professor of [[Marathi]] in a Jalgaon college, and the widow of murdered Jalgaon congressman Vishram G Patil in a press conference claimed that her husband was murdered by Pratibha Patil's brother [[G.N.Patil]]. She accused Pratibha Patil of shielding her brother. She further said that she had written to [[Sonia Gandhi]] and President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam giving details about the allegations. Copies of her memorandum to the President on this issue were distributed to the press by Mr. Sudheendra Kulkarni, an aide of Leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani.<ref>[http://www.indianexpress.com/story/160239.html Congman's wife drags Pratibha name into allegations, NDA distances itself]</ref><ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pratibha_Patils_brother_killed_my_husband/articleshow/2141476.cms Woman claims husband killed by Pratibha Patil's brother] [[Times of India]]- [[June 22]], [[2007]]</ref> |
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On 13 July, 2007 Rajani Patil moved the Bombay High Court demanding that the CBI "interrogate" UPA's presidential candidate Pratibha Patil and her brother in connection with the case before the presidential poll. Rajni Patil's petition stated that the CBI, which was directed by the Aurangabad bench of the [[Bombay High Court]] to probe the case in February, must question Pratibha before July 19, the date for the presidential election because she might get "presidential immunity" if she wins the poll.<ref>[http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/FullcoverageStoryPage.aspx?id=f081b778-77f6-4d2b-9acc-21ae1c239feeWho%20will%20be%20India's%20next%20President_Special&MatchID1=4488&TeamID1=8&TeamID2=10&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1120&PrimaryID=4488&Headline=Petition+filed+seeking+Patil%e2%80%99s+interrogation+in+murder+case The Hindustan Times]</ref> |
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The lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani said that two CDs have surfaced which contain incriminating material against Patil's brother. The CDs contain footage of the elections for the district Congress presidentship in Jalgaon. Jethmalani offered to place both CDs on record, saying "These contain vital information showing the political link behind the murder." [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Jalgaon_case_HC_slams_CBI_for_tardiness/articleshow/2212121.cms] |
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====Pratibha Women Cooperative Bank==== |
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{{Main|Pratibha Mahila Sahakari Bank}} |
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[[Pratibha Mahila Sahakari Bank]], a cooperative bank set up by Pratibha Patil in 1973 in her name, to empower women, had its license revoked in 2003 by the [[Reserve Bank of India]] for alleged financial irregularities. Among the reasons listed by the RBI for cancellation of the license was the faulty loan policy of the bank and loan interest waivers given, among others, to Pratibha Patil's relatives.<ref>[[Arun Shourie]]. [http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEM20070627203526&Title=Main+Article&rLink=-498 Lifting the veil over Pratibha Patil]</ref> Pratibha Patil was one of the chairpersons of the Bank and along with a number of her relatives, was one of its directors. She is currently one of the 34 respondents in an ongoing case in the Aurangabad bench of the [[Bombay High Court]] on the subject of mismanagement of the bank and misappropriation of funds by its Managing Directors.<ref>[http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070016622&ch=6/25/2007%207:50:00%20AM Pratibha Patil in the line of fire] NDTV - June 25, 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.indianexpress.com/story/160431.html Pratibha bank waived loans for kin before RBI shut it down]</ref> |
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In her defence, her supporters point out that she was not the founding president<ref name="bnkdefence">Congress rebuts BJP charges on Pratibha Patil [http://www.dailyindia.com/show/153477.php/Congress-rebuts-BJP-charges-on-Pratibha-Patil DailyIndia - June 29, 2007]</ref> of the bank, and that she held the job of the chairwoman for only a month and eight days.<ref>[http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=d7b0e7a8-1c1b-46f9-8655-06fc9f199542&MatchID1=4488&TeamID1=8&TeamID2=10&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1120&PrimaryID=4488&Headline=Should+Pratibha+Patil+be+President%3f Should Pratibha Patil be President?]Hindustan Times - July 07, 2007</ref> They also point out that the RBI has never mentioned Patil's name in the report,<ref name="bnkdefence">RBI report</ref> and the court has not charge-sheeted her.<ref name="karanthapar">CNN - IBN Interview [http://www.ibnlive.com/news/i-take-no-responsibility-for-what-pratibha-does-bardhan/43855-3-single.html CNN - IBN - July 01, 2007]</ref> Communist leader [[A.B. Bardhan]] cast doubts on the credibility of the official employees union of the bank, which has been highlighting the issue of the banks mismanagement since 2002, drawing attention to the fact that it is associated with the [[BMS]] union led by the BJP.<ref name="karanthapar">BMSunion</ref> |
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==== Sant Muktabai Cooperative Sugar Factory ==== |
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{{Main|Sant Muktabai Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana }} |
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A cooperative sugar factory - [[Sant Muktabai Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana]] - of which Pratibha was a founder member, was found to be a drug trafficking ring, was declared a defaulter for failing to repay a [[Indian rupee|Rs]] 17.5 crore (Rs 175 million) bank loan.<ref>[http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/06_2007/pratibha-patils-family-defaulted-on-rs-17cr-loan-43423.html Return Rs 17-cr loan, bank tells Pratibha's family] [[CNN-IBN]] - [[June 22]], [[2007]]</ref> Pratibha Patil had been its chairwoman and director till she became the Governor of Rajasthan.<ref>Pawar defends Pratibha [http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/24/stories/2007062455890800.htm - The Hindu - June 24, 2007]</ref> The loan was taken in 1994 when Pratibha was its chairwoman, but the factory has failed to repay the full amount. The bank sealed the factory on January 23, 2007 after issuing many reminders. This was the second occasion the mill had been sealed. Earlier, it was sealed in January 2006, but was reopened after the board of directors headed by G. N. Patil - younger brother of Pratibha Patil - requested for an opportunity to improve the performance of the mill.<ref>[http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_variable=front%5Fpage&file_name=story4%2Etxt&counter_img=4 UPA nominee's co-op firm loan defaulter, gets notice] The Pioneer - June 23, 2007</ref> |
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In 2002 the chief commissioner of central excise and customs, [[Pune]], issued notice to the factory for evading excise duty resulting from diversion of export-oriented sugar by the factory into domestic market. |
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Dubbing as "malign campaign" the allegations, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, defended Pratibha and noted that there was never any enquiry under Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act against her. He also pointed out that as many as 74 mills were issued notices in December 2006, and it was "unfortunate that only one particular case has been brought up in the media". Pawar said most of the mills had failed to repay the loans because of persistent drought affecting sugarcane production, leading these mills to go sick.<ref>Allegations against Pratibha Patil unfortunate: UPA [http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200706231541.htm - The Hindu - June 23, 2007]</ref> |
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Nevertheless in 2007, Manohar Lal Sharma, an independent advocate, filed a [[public interest litigation]] petition in the Supreme Court alleging that Mrs Pratibha Patil was an undischarged insolvent relating to the Sant Muktabai Sugar Factory and hence disqualified to remain in the office of the presidency.<ref>[http://www.newstodaynet.com/2007sud/jul07/030707.htm Special Story<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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==== Shrama Sadhna Trust ==== |
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==== MPLADS ==== |
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As Member of Parliament from Amravati between 1991 and 1996 Pratibha Patil had diverted Rs 36 lakh (Rs 3.6 million) from her [[MPLADS]] fund to a trust run by her husband Devisingh Shekhawat. This was in violation of Government rules which barred MPs from providing funds to organisation run by their relatives.<ref>[http://www.indianexpress.com/story/203981.html IndianExpress.com :: For family again: Patil’s MP funds for sports complex on land leased to husband society<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1107938 DNA - Mumbai - Now, a land grab haunts Patil - Daily News & Analysis<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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===Views on sterilisation=== |
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On 10 December 1975, when she was the Health Minister of Maharashtra, Pratibha Patil advocated in Maharashtra Assembly that people with [[hereditary diseases]] should be compulsorily sterilised.<ref>[http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=d7b0e7a8-1c1b-46f9-8655-06fc9f199542&&Headline=Should+Pratibha+Patil+be+President%3f Should Pratibha Patil be President?]</ref> |
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===Purdah remarks=== |
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On June 17, 2007, Pratibha Patil made remarks on the [[Purdah]] system, while addressing a congregation of [[Rajput]]s in [[Udaipur]]:<ref>[http://in.news.yahoo.com/070618/211/6h3jv.html Pratibha Patil unveils a controversy] Yahoo News - June 18, 2007</ref> |
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{{cquote|''Women have always been respected in the Indian culture. The [[purdah]] system was introduced to protect them from the [[Muslim]] invaders. However, times have changed. India is now independent and hence, the systems should also change. Now that women are progressing in every field, we should morally support and encourage them by leaving such practices behind.''<ref name="Timesuk">[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article1957758.ece Fury as presidential hopeful urges women to throw off 'veil of invader'].</ref>}} |
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=== Divine indication === |
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Patil claims to have spoken to the spirit of the deceased leader (Baba Lekhraj<ref name="ibnlive_ghost">IBN Live, [http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/43632/pratibha-patil-speaks-to-a-ghost.html Race for Raisina: Shekhawat vs. Patil - Pratibha Patil speaks to a ghost (video)]</ref>) of the at their headquarters in [[Mount Abu]], Rajasthan.<ref name="ibnlive_ghost"/> |
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"''Dadiji ke shareer mein Baba aye ... Maine unse baat ki'' (Baba entered Devi’s body and he communicated to me through her)," she said on TV camera.<ref name="KhaleejTimes_Patil_row">KhaleejTimes, June 28th, 2007, [http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2007/June/subcontinent_June1110.xml§ion=subcontinent&col= Patil kicks up another row]</ref> Reporters began to report on the message she received of a "divine indication" of great responsibility coming her way.<ref>Times of India, June 27, 2007, [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Pratibha_believes_in_spirits/articleshow/2152156.cms Pratibha believes in spirits?]</ref> |
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== Positions held == |
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[[File:Bengia Menia.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Pratibha Patil in [[North-east India]]]] |
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{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto" |
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! Period |
! Period |
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! Position |
! Position |
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|- |
|- |
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|1967–72 |
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|1967-72 |
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| Deputy Minister |
| Deputy Minister, Public Health, Prohibition, Tourism, Housing & Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Maharashtra |
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|- |
|- |
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|1972–79 |
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|1972-74 |
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| Cabinet Minister, Social Welfare, Government of Maharashtra |
| Cabinet Minister, Social Welfare, Government of Maharashtra |
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|- |
|- |
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|1974–75 |
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|1974-75 |
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| Cabinet Minister, Public Health & Social Welfare, Government of Maharashtra |
| Cabinet Minister, Public Health & Social Welfare, Government of Maharashtra |
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|- |
|- |
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|1975–76 |
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|1975-76 |
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| Cabinet Minister, Prohibition, Rehabilitation and Cultural Affairs, Government of Maharashtra |
| Cabinet Minister, Prohibition, Rehabilitation and Cultural Affairs, Government of Maharashtra |
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|- |
|- |
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|1977–78 |
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|1977-78 |
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| Cabinet Minister, Education, Government of |
| Cabinet Minister, Education, Government of Maharashtra |
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|- |
|- |
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|1979–1980 |
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|July 1979 to February 1980 |
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| |
| Leader of the Opposition, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly |
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|- |
|- |
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|1982–85 |
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|1982-85 |
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| Cabinet Minister, Urban Development and Housing, Government of Maharashtra |
| Cabinet Minister, Urban Development and Housing, Government of Maharashtra |
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|- |
|- |
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|1983–85 |
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|1983-85 |
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| Cabinet Minister, Civil Supplies and Social Welfare, Government of Maharashtra |
| Cabinet Minister, Civil Supplies and Social Welfare, Government of Maharashtra |
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|- |
|- |
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| |
|1986–1988 || Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha |
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|- |
|- |
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|1986–88 |
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|1986-88 |
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| |
| Chairman, Committee of Privileges, Rajya Sabha; Member, Business Advisory Committee, Rajya Sabha |
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|- |
|- |
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|1991–1996 |
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|1991-96 |
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| |
| Chairman, House Committee, Lok Sabha |
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|- |
|- |
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| |
|8 November 2004 – 23 June 2007 |
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| Governor of |
| Governor of Rajasthan |
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|- |
|- |
||
| |
|25 July 2007 – 25 July 2012 |
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| President of India |
| President of India |
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|} |
|} |
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== |
== Awards and honours == |
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*{{flag|Mexico}}: |
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* [[Devisingh Ransingh Shekhawat]] |
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**[[File:MEX Orden del Aguila Azteca 2011 Banda Especial BAR.svg|40px]] [[Order of the Aztec Eagle]], ''Sash of Special Category'' (3 August 2018)<ref>{{cite news |date=1 June 2019 |title=Former President Pratibha Patil awarded Mexico's highest civilian honour for foreigners |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ex-president-pratibha-patil-awarded-mexicos-highest-civilian-honour-for-foreigners-5760200/ |access-date=1 June 2019 |publisher=The Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5533864&fecha=03/08/2018|title=ACUERDO por el que se otorga la Condecoración de la Orden Mexicana del Águila Azteca, en grado de Banda en Categoría Especial, a la Excelentísima Señora Pratibha Devisingh Patil, expresidenta de la República de la India|website=Diario Oficial de la Federación|access-date=1 June 2019}}</ref> |
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* [[Pratibha Mahila Sahakari Bank]] |
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* [[Sant Muktabai Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana]] |
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* [[Know Pratibha Patil]] |
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== |
==References== |
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{{ |
{{Reflist|30em}} |
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==External links== |
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{{Commons category|Pratibha Patil}} |
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{{commonscat}} |
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{{Wikiquote}} |
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* [http://www.presidentofindia.nic.in/assumption_address.htm Assumption Address] by Pratibha Patil, official website of the President of India. |
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* [http://presidentofindia.nic.in/ President of India Official Site] |
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* [http://rajassembly.nic.in/PratibhaPatil.htm Official profile] at the Government of Rajasthan website. |
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* [http://pratibhapatil.nic.in/ Ex-President of India Pratibha Patil's Official Site] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519081458/http://pratibhapatil.nic.in/ |date=19 May 2018 }}) |
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* [http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/lok10/mp532.htm Official biodata] at the [[Parliament of India]] website. |
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* [http://pratibhapatil.info/ Ex-President Pratibha Patil's Personal Site (www.pratibha patil.info)] |
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* {{cite news |last1=Thakurdesai |first1=Prerana |last2=Sahgal |first2=Priya |date=9 July 2007 |title=Embarrassing Choice: Scandals and mud-slinging have turned the presidential polls into an unseemly affair |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/patil-the-outstanding-choice-for-presidentship/1/155553.html |work=India Today |access-date=11 January 2016}} |
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{{s-ttl|title=Member for Amravati|years=1985 – 1990}} |
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{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament<br />for [[Amravati]]|years=1991–1996}} |
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Governor of Rajasthan]]|years= |
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of governors of Rajasthan|Governor of Rajasthan]]|years=2004–2007}} |
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{{s-aft|after=[[ |
{{s-aft|after=[[Akhlaqur Rahman Kidwai]]}} |
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{{s-bef|before=[[A. P. J. |
{{s-bef|before=[[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]]}} |
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{{s-ttl|title=[[President of India]]|years= |
{{s-ttl|title=[[President of India]]|years=2007–2012}} |
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{{s-aft|after=[[Pranab Mukherjee]]}} |
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<!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] --> |
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{{Persondata |
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|NAME = Patil, Pratibha |
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|ALTERNATIVE NAMES = |
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|SHORT DESCRIPTION = Indian politician |
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|DATE OF BIRTH = December 19, 1934 |
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|PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Nadgaon]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]] |
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|DATE OF DEATH = |
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|PLACE OF DEATH = |
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}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Patil, Pratibha}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Patil, Pratibha}} |
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[[ar:براتيبها باتيل]] |
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Latest revision as of 06:58, 11 December 2024
Pratibha Patil | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2007 | |
| 12th President of India | |
| In office 25 July 2007 – 25 July 2012 | |
| Prime Minister | Manmohan Singh |
| Vice President | Mohammad Hamid Ansari |
| Preceded by | A. P. J. Abdul Kalam |
| Succeeded by | Pranab Mukherjee |
| 17th Governor of Rajasthan | |
| In office 8 November 2004 – 23 June 2007 | |
| Chief Minister | Vasundhara Raje |
| Preceded by | Madan Lal Khurana |
| Succeeded by | Akhlaqur Rahman Kidwai |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| In office 21 June 1991 – 16 May 1996 | |
| Preceded by | Sudam Deshmukh |
| Succeeded by | Anantrao Gudhe |
| Constituency | Amravati, Maharashtra |
| 9th Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha | |
| In office 18 November 1986 – 5 November 1988 | |
| Chairman | Ramaswamy Venkataraman (1986–1987) Shankar Dayal Sharma (1987–1988) |
| Preceded by | M. M. Jacob |
| Succeeded by | Najma Heptulla |
| Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha | |
| In office 1985–1990 | |
| Constituency | Maharashtra |
| Member of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 1978–1985 | |
| Constituency | Edlabad |
| In office 1962–1967 | |
| Constituency | Jalgaon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Pratibha Narayan Rao Patil 19 December 1934 Nadgaon, Bombay Presidency, British India (present–day Maharashtra, India) |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | 57, Congress Nagar, Amravati |
| Alma mater | |
| Website | pratibhapatil |
Pratibha Devisingh Patil (born 19 December 1934), also known as Pratibha Patil Shekhawat,[1][2] is an Indian politician and lawyer who served as the 12th president of India from 2007 to 2012. She was the first woman to become the president of India. A member of the Indian National Congress, she also served as the Governor of Rajasthan from 2004 to 2007, and was a member of the Lok Sabha from 1991 to 1996.
Early life
[edit]Patil was born in a Marathi family[3][4] on 19 December 1934 in the village of Nadgaon in Jalgaon, Maharashtra. She was the daughter of Narayan Rao Patil.[5] She was educated initially at R. R. Vidyalaya town and subsequently was awarded a master's degree in Political Science and Economics by Mooljee Jetha College, Jalgaon (then under Poona University), and then a Bachelor of Law degree by Government Law College, Bombay, affiliated to the University of Bombay (now University of Mumbai). Patil then began to practice law at the Jalgaon District Court, while also taking interest in social issues such as improving the conditions faced by Indian women.[6]
Patil married Devisingh Ramsingh Shekhawat on 7 July 1965. The couple has a daughter, Jyoti Rathore and a son, Raosaheb Shekhawat, who is also a politician.[5][7]
Political career
[edit]In 1962, at the age of 27, she was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for the Jalgaon constituency.[8] After that she won in the Muktainagar (formerly Edlabad) constituency on four consecutive occasions between 1967 and 1985, before becoming a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha between 1985 and 1990. In the 1991 elections for the 10th Lok Sabha, she was elected as a Member of Parliament representing the Amravati constituency.[6] A period of retirement from politics followed later in the decade.[9]
Patil had held various Cabinet portfolios during her period in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and held official positions in both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. In addition, she had been the president of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee for a few years. Also, she held office as Director of the National Federation of Urban Co-operative Banks and Credit Societies and as a Member of the Governing Council of the National Co-operative Union of India.[5]
On 8 November 2004 she was appointed the 17th Governor of Rajasthan,[10] the first woman to hold that office.[11]
Presidential election
[edit]
Patil was announced as the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate on 14 June 2007. She emerged as a compromise candidate after the left-wing parties of the alliance would not agree to the nomination of former Home Minister Shivraj Patil or Karan Singh.[11] Patil had been loyal to the INC and the Nehru–Gandhi family for decades and this was considered to be a significant factor in her selection by INC leader Sonia Gandhi, although Patil said that she had no intention of being a "rubber-stamp president".[9][12]
In the same month that she was selected as a member of the UPA, Patil was accused of shielding her brother, G. N. Patil, in the 2005 Vishram Patil murder case. Vishram Patil had narrowly defeated G. N. Patil in an election to be the President of the District Congress Committee of Jalgaon and in September of that year had been murdered. Vishram Patil's widow eventually accused G. N. Patil of involvement in the crime and claimed that Pratibha Patil had influenced the criminal investigation and that the issue needed to be examined before presidential immunity became active.[13] Her accusations were rejected by the courts in 2009[14] but in 2015 G. N. Patil was charged. No reference to the alleged involvement of Pratibha Patil was made at this time.[15]
Due to the presidential role being largely a figurehead position, the selection of the candidate is often arranged by consensus among the various political parties and the candidate runs unopposed.[16] Contrary to the normal pattern of events, Patil faced a challenge in the election. The BBC described the situation as "the latest casualty of the country's increasingly partisan politics and [it] highlights what is widely seen as an acute crisis of leadership". It "degenerated into unseemly mudslinging between the ruling party and the opposition".[17] Her challenger was Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, the incumbent vice-president and a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran. Shekhawat stood as an independent candidate and was supported by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), a group led by the BJP,[18] although the Shiv Sena party, which was a part of NDA, supported her because of her Marathi origin.[19]
Those opposed to Patil becoming president claimed that she lacked charisma, experience, and ability. They also highlighted her time spent away from high-level politics and queried her belief in the supernatural, such as her claim to have received a message from Dada Lekhraj, a dead guru.[9][17][20] Various specific issues were raised, such as a comment made by her in 1975 that those suffering from hereditary diseases should be sterilised.[9] Another alleged that while a Member of Parliament for Amravati she diverted Rs 3.6 million from her MPLADS fund to a trust run by her husband. This was in violation of Government rules which barred MPs from providing funds to organisations run by their relatives.[21] The parliamentary affairs minister denied any wrongdoing on Patil's part and noted that the funds are used under MPLADS, by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.[22]
Patil won the election held on 19 July 2007. She garnered nearly two-thirds of the votes[23] and, on 25 July 2007, took oath as India's 12th President, the first woman to hold the position.[24][25]
Presidency
[edit]
Patil's term as the President of India saw various controversies and is widely considered as lackluster.[26] She commuted death sentences of 35 petitioners to life, a record. President's Office, however, defended this by saying that President had granted clemency to the petitioners after due consideration and examining the advice of the Home Ministry.[27][28]
Patil was noted for having spent more money on foreign trips, and having taken a greater number of foreign trips, than any previous president.[29] Sometimes accompanied by as many as 11 members of her family, there had been 12 foreign trips spanning 22 countries by May 2012, when she was away on her 13th trip. Those completed travels had cost Rs 205 crore (Rs 2.05 billion). The Ministry of External Affairs said that taking family members "was not abnormal".[30]
The Office of President has a five-year term[17] and Patil retired from the role in July 2012.[31]
Patil allegedly used public funds to build a retirement mansion on a 260,000 square feet (24,000 m2) plot of military land in Pune. Tradition is that a retiring president either takes residence in Government accommodation in Delhi or moves back to their residence in their home state; her use of government money to build a retirement home at the end of the presidential term was unprecedented.[32] Other controversies that arose after her retirement included her desire to claim both an official government car and fuel allowance for the running of a private car, despite rules clearly stipulating that this was an either/or situation. She also took possession of many gifts that had been given to her in her official role and was later forced to return them.[33]
Business interests
[edit]Patil set up Vidya Bharati Shikshan Prasarak Mandal, an educational institute which runs a chain of schools and colleges in Amravati, Jalgaon, Pune and Mumbai. She also set up Shram Sadhana Trust, which runs hostels for working women in New Delhi, Mumbai and Pune; and an engineering college for rural students in Jalgaon district.[34] She also co-founded a cooperative sugar factory known as Sant Muktabai Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana at Muktainagar.[35]
In addition, Patil founded a cooperative bank, Pratibha Mahila Sahakari Bank, that ceased trading in February 2003 when its licence was cancelled by the Reserve Bank of India. Among other failings, the bank had given illegal loans to her relatives that exceeded the bank's share capital. It had also given a loan to her sugar mill which was never repaid. The bank waived these loans, and this drove it into liquidation. The government liquidator of the bank, P. D. Nigam, said, "The fact that relatives of the founder chairperson (Pratibha Patil) were among those indiscriminately granted loans and that some illegal loan waivers were done has come up in our audit." Six of the top ten defaulters in the bank were linked to her relatives. The INC claimed that Patil had not been involved with the bank since 1994 but The Indian Express reported that it had official documents showing her involvement as late as 2002.[36][37]
Positions held
[edit]Pratibha Patil has held various official offices during her career. These are:[5]
| Period | Position |
|---|---|
| 1967–72 | Deputy Minister, Public Health, Prohibition, Tourism, Housing & Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Maharashtra |
| 1972–79 | Cabinet Minister, Social Welfare, Government of Maharashtra |
| 1974–75 | Cabinet Minister, Public Health & Social Welfare, Government of Maharashtra |
| 1975–76 | Cabinet Minister, Prohibition, Rehabilitation and Cultural Affairs, Government of Maharashtra |
| 1977–78 | Cabinet Minister, Education, Government of Maharashtra |
| 1979–1980 | Leader of the Opposition, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly |
| 1982–85 | Cabinet Minister, Urban Development and Housing, Government of Maharashtra |
| 1983–85 | Cabinet Minister, Civil Supplies and Social Welfare, Government of Maharashtra |
| 1986–1988 | Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha |
| 1986–88 | Chairman, Committee of Privileges, Rajya Sabha; Member, Business Advisory Committee, Rajya Sabha |
| 1991–1996 | Chairman, House Committee, Lok Sabha |
| 8 November 2004 – 23 June 2007 | Governor of Rajasthan |
| 25 July 2007 – 25 July 2012 | President of India |
Awards and honours
[edit]
Mexico:
Order of the Aztec Eagle, Sash of Special Category (3 August 2018)[38][39]
References
[edit]- ^ Ganjapure, Vaibhav; More, Vaidehi (11 February 2010). "President's kin usurped land, says court". The Economic Times. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ Phadnis, Aditi (5 February 2013). "Pratibha pitchforked into presidential race". Business Times. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ PTI (17 November 2012). "Bal Thackeray: The mascot of Marathi pride". Business Standard India. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
- ^ Patel, Aakar (28 August 2009). "When will the Brahmin-Bania hegemony end?". Mint. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Ex Governor of Rajasthan". Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Secretariate. Archived from the original on 4 August 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
- ^ a b "Profile: President of India". NIC / President's Secretariat. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
- ^ Purohit, Kunal (11 October 2014). "In Amravati, it's about taking revenge for 2009 polls". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
- ^ Ritu Singh (2007). President Pratibha Patil: India's First Woman President. Rajpal & Sons. p. 52. ISBN 978-81-7028-705-6.
- ^ a b c d "Profile: Pratibha Patil". BBC. 21 July 2007. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
- ^ "Former Governors of Rajasthan". Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Secretariat. Archived from the original on 17 April 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
- ^ a b "Prez polls: Sonia announces Pratibha Patil's name". NDTV. 14 June 2007. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
- ^ "I will not be a rubber stamp President". Daily News & Analysis. PTI. 16 June 2007. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
- ^ "Congman's wife drags Pratibha name into allegations, NDA distances itself". The Indian Express. 22 June 2007. Archived from the original on 30 August 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
- ^ "Court dismisses lawsuit against president's brother". Thaindian. IANS. 11 December 2009. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
- ^ "Court summons brother of Pratibha Patil in murder case". The Indian Express. 8 July 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
- ^ Pradhan, Bibhudatta (19 July 2007). "Patil Poised to Become India's First Female President". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
- ^ a b c Biswas, Soutik (13 July 2007). "India's muckraking presidential poll". BBC. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
- ^ "Indian MPs vote for new president". BBC. 19 July 2007. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
- ^ Menon, Meena (26 June 2007). "Shiv Sena backs Pratibha Patil". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 29 June 2007. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
- ^ Dhawan, Himanshi (27 June 2007). "Pratibha believes in spirits?". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
- ^ "Now, a land grab haunts Patil". DNA. 4 July 2007. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
- ^ "For family again: Patil's MP funds for sports complex on land leased to husband society". Indian Express. 6 July 2007. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
- ^ "First female president for India". BBC. 21 July 2007. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
- ^ Reals, Tucker (21 July 2007). "India's First Woman President Elected". CBS News. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
- ^ Turner, B. (12 January 2017). The Statesman's Yearbook 2009: The Politics, Cultures and Economies of the World. Springer. p. 605. ISBN 978-1-349-74027-7.
- ^ "President Pratibha Patil's brush with controversy". IBN Live. 12 April 2012. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
- ^ "President defends mercy spree to death row convicts". The Times of India. 26 June 2012. Archived from the original on 22 September 2013.
- ^ "President Pratibha Patil goes on mercy overdrive". The Times of India. 22 June 2012. Archived from the original on 5 June 2013.
- ^ "President Patil's foreign trips cost Rs 205 crore". The Indian Express. 26 March 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
- ^ Dhawan, Himanshi (3 May 2012). "Pratibha Patil took up to 11 relatives on 18 trips in a year". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 24 July 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
- ^ Kshirsagar, Alka (25 June 2012). "Pratibha Patil gets retirement home in Pune". Business Line. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
- ^ Joseph, Josy (15 April 2012). "Pratibha's Pune home a break from tradition". The Times of India. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
- ^ Satish, D. P. (29 July 2015). "Former President Pratibha Patil wants both car & fuel from government". IBN Live. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
- ^ "Pratibha Patil's Resume". The Times of India. 19 July 2007. Archived from the original on 18 August 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
- ^ "Pratibha-founded sugar unit owes bank Rs 17.70 cr". Hindustan Times. 30 September 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007.
- ^ Sarin, Ritu (26 June 2007). "Patil was aware of her bank mess, top defaulters her kin". The Indian Express. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
- ^ "Report on Trend and Progress of Banking in India, 2005–06: Appendix Table IV.3: Urban Co-operative Banks Under Liquidation" (PDF). Reserve Bank of India. p. 328 (5). Retrieved 5 July 2012.
- ^ "Former President Pratibha Patil awarded Mexico's highest civilian honour for foreigners". The Indian Express. 1 June 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
- ^ "ACUERDO por el que se otorga la Condecoración de la Orden Mexicana del Águila Azteca, en grado de Banda en Categoría Especial, a la Excelentísima Señora Pratibha Devisingh Patil, expresidenta de la República de la India". Diario Oficial de la Federación. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pratibha Patil.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Pratibha Patil.
- President of India Official Site
- Ex-President of India Pratibha Patil's Official Site (Archived 19 May 2018 at the Wayback Machine)
- Ex-President Pratibha Patil's Personal Site (www.pratibha patil.info)
- Thakurdesai, Prerana; Sahgal, Priya (9 July 2007). "Embarrassing Choice: Scandals and mud-slinging have turned the presidential polls into an unseemly affair". India Today. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
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