President gives up her Pune retirement home

There was no clarity on where Patil would move after her term ends in July. She has not put her mind to it, Rashtrapati Bhawan spokesperson Archana Dutta said.

There was controversy after some ex-servicemen protested the decision to allot the President land in Pune cantonment,compelling Rashtrapati Bhawan to issue a detailed clarification on April 12 stating there was no wrongdoing.

But todays statement said the President was pained at being portrayed as someone insensitive to war widows and ex-servicemen.

She chose not to react as she has always held herself answerable to the Constitution of our country and her conscience. It was expected that once the facts were made public it would convince the concerned people. But despite clarifications given by the Presidents Secretariat,it is unfortunate that the misgivings continue to persist, the statement said.

Saying that she had the highest regard for jawans and war widows,Patil hoped that the decision would put an end to all misgivings8230;