President Pratibha Patil yet again came out with a strong defence of her foreign tours, saying she was forced to go public on the issue despite government clarifications.
The President, while addressing the concluding ceremony of celebrations for 150 years of the Income Tax Department, also made a strong case for tightening laws to book tax evaders.
With an eye on increasing south-south cooperation, President Pratibha Patil ended her maiden visit to Latin American countries during which nine agreements were signed with Chile, Brazil and Mexico and a special emphasis was laid on increasing the connectivity. The visit of 73-year-old Patil was also used to muster support for India's candidature for the permanent membership to the United Nations Security Council.
Notwithstanding the chill in bilateral relations, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani have sent their New Year greetings to their Indian counterparts.Zardari and Gilani have sent their greetings to President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh through the Ministry of External Affairs, sources said on Wednesday.
On the eve of demitting her office, President Pratibha Patil on Tuesday highlighted the scourge of corruption saying it is the enemy of good governance and asked government and people to collectively fight it.
President Pratibha Patil on Monday cautioned Members of Parliament not to voice their dissensions in Parliament at the cost of serious debate and legislations. She maintained that they should keep abreast of new developments in technology and information explosion while making laws.
Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar had sent in a request to the President for visiting Baramati in Maharashtra to see the all round development made in the areas of agriculture, irrigation and town planning.
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