Dismissing speculations about being a contender for the post of President, External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj on Saturday termed such news as rumours.
“These are rumours. I am an External Affairs Minister and you are asking me something which is an internal matter,” Swaraj said when asked by mediapersons whether she was being considered as a candidate in the Presidential poll.
The Minister’s name is speculated in certain sections of the media even though the Government has not declared its choice of candidate for the President’s post. The election to pick up a new President will be held on July 17 while the counting of votes would be held on July 20. June 28 is the last day for nominations.
Meanwhile, Swaraj announced the launch of 149 new Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSK). The POPSK will ensure that people get their passports without having to travel much distance. This will be in addition to the 86 POPSKs announced by the MEA in the first phase.
“We have set up a target that no one has to travel more than a distance of 50 kms to get a passport,” Swaraj said.
She added the MEA and the Department of Post are working to utilise 810 head post offices to double up as passport offices.
Swaraj said that when she took charge of the Ministry, she realised that proximity of passport offices was the biggest hurdle in applying for passports which is why the Government is now utilising existing infrastructure available with the Indian Post. The NDA Government has in the last three years opened altogether 251 PSKs and POPSKs. Prior to this, there were 77 PSKs in the country.
Swaraj said more POPSKs will be opened in the third phase after the completion of mapping and checking the viability of the post offices.