“I cannot comment on what the opposition has said about my role”
President Pranab Mukherjee chose to steer clear of any controversy when asked whether he had played an important role in the withdrawal of the ordinance relating to the convicted legislators and emphasised that it was simply a case of the Cabinet reviewing its earlier decision.
Speaking to the media on board Air India One, he obliquely suggested that too much should not be read into the speculation in the media that he had played a critical role in shaping the decison of the government to roll back the ordinance. The speculation had got reinforced when the BJP leader L.K.Advani had praised Mr. Mukherjee for his role in the withdrawal of the ordinance. Mr.Mukherjee said ,“I cannot comment on what the opposition has said about my role.”
For good measure Mr. Mukherjee added, “My duties are now completely determined by the Indian Constitution”. He also sought to underplay a public remark by the King of Belgium that Mr.Mukherjee was a consensus builder in Indian polity. Asked whether the King’s observations were suggestive of his future role as a “consensus builder” in the context of general elections in 2014, Mr. Mukherjee clarified ,“the King was probably talking about my consensus building role in the past as an active Parliamentarian. That situation doesnt hold anymore as my role has completely changed as I have ceased to be a Parliamentarian since June 25, 2012”(thehindu)
