This refers to the editorial, “Presidential qualities” (July 21). The election of KR Narayanan, APJ Abdul Kalam, and now that of Ram Nath Kovind as Presidents, demonstrates the beauty of Indian
democracy which provides opportunity to even people coming from the lowest rung of the social ladder to make to the top-most position of the Republic, irrespective of their cast, region and religion.
Kovind belongs to Kanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. His father was a landless member of a Scheduled Caste weaving community who ran a small shop to support his family. A law graduate, former Central Government advocate, a practising Supreme Court lawyer for about 16 years, Kovind was Governor of Bihar.
Expecting that Kovind would protect the Constitution, Opposition candidate, Meira Kumar, said that it was a fight for ideology which will go on. Kovind will be bound to protect the Constitution by the very oath he takes to assume the office of the President. But the Opposition needs to realise that, had the ideology of its political parties been any issue for the people, the BJP would have never been in power in so many States and also at the Centre.