Politics news

Will study Afzal Guru's mercy plea as President, says Pranab Mukherjee in his first interview after Presidential win

Sagarika Ghose, CNN-IBN | Updated Jul 23, 2012 at 02:39pm IST

Sponsored link: Renault Scala - now with X-TRONIC CVT

New Delhi: India's President elect Pranab Mukherjee has given his first interview to CNN-IBN after winning the President poll. Speaking to CNN-IBN Deputy Editor Sagarika Ghose, Pranab said he will study Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru's clemency plea, but won't comment on it before that.

"I can't comment on Afzal Guru until I have assumed office and gone through the issue," Pranab said. Pranab also said he was moved at the support he received, which is a mark of his many years in public life.

"I'm particularly happy that those who committed, particularly those who don't belong to our party scrupulously adhered to their commitment and voted for me. That doesn't normally happen. I consider this a great reward to my long stay in public life," Pranab said.

He also said that he was disturbed at the hatred between political parties. "The hatred between political parties bothers me," Pranab said.

Pranab Mukherjee said he will be everybody's President. speaking about his journey from Birbhum to the Raisina Hills, Pranab said, "It has been a long way from Mirati to Raisina. I was a very naughty child. I always got into trouble, didi always saved me."

Pranab Mukherjee is set to take oath as the 13th President of India on July 25 after he won the Presidential election against PA Sangma, getting 69 per cent votes.

The full transcript of the interview will be published shortly

(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)

Comments (1)

All comments will be published after moderation

Politics

Pranab Mukherjee

Posted on May 23, 2013 at 03:40PM IST
Mukherjee was elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha in July 1969 and was re-elected in 1975, 1981, 1993 and 1999. He rose through a series of cabinet posts to become the Finance Minister of India in 1982. He served as the Finance Minister of ...

TV Anchors

Sagarika Ghose

Posted on May 23, 2013 at 11:51PM IST
Anchor & Senior Editor, CNN-IBN. One of India's foremost opinion page writers with over 18 years of experience in journalism, Sagarika hosts 'Face The Nation' on CNN-IBN. Author of the novel `The Gin Drinkers'. ...

News Makers

Afzal Guru

Posted on Apr 13, 2013 at 05:41PM IST
Mohammad Afzal, also known as Afzal Guru, was convicted of conspiracy in the December 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament and was sentenced to death by the Supreme Court of India in 2004. The sentence was to be carried out on 20 October 2006. ...

Previous story

NCP-Congress stand-off on, Chavan holds meet

Next story

NCP-Cong rift: Pawar may skip PM's dinner