New Delhi: Senior Congress leader and former Railway Minister CK Jaffer Sharief has backed the idea to make RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat as the next President of India.
In a letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Jaffer said, "I personally feel nobody should find fault with Mohan Bhagwat's name being considered for President."
The former Railway Minister hailed Bhagwat for his commitment to the Constitution of India and said that "there should not be any doubt about his patriotism, love for the people of India and loyalty of India."
The 83-year-old’s surprise backing of Bhagwat comes in direct conflict with the Congress party’s stand on the issue.
"It is very clear that we do not support RSS ideology and when it comes to appointing our President, at the right time, we will, of course, have our own internal discussion first and then share," party leader Gaurav Gogoi told reporters in New Delhi.
It was Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut who began the speculation on Bhagwat when he said the RSS sarsanghchalak should be considered as the NDA candidate for the presidential polls later this year. Current president Pranab Mukherjee’s tenure ends on July 24.
Bhagwat himself, however, made it clear that he was not interested in the post adding that even if his name was nominated, he would not accept it.
