My fight is against BJP ideology, not Kovind: Meira Kumar

Opposition Presidential candidate Meira Kumar on Sunday reiterated her view that her fight is not against NDA Presidential candidate Ramnath Kovind but against Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) ideology.

"I respect Kovind. My fight is not against him but the ideology," Kumar said, while addressing a press conference here.

However, Kumar said it hurts her to know that a 'modern' India is presently talking only about caste, just because two Dalits have stood for the presidential elections.

"In the earlier elections, when other caste people stood, nobody talked about their caste but about their qualities, talent, achievements.

But now when Kovind and I have stood for the elections, people are talking about nothing else but caste. India wants to become a modern nation but this mindset is a mismatch with this," she said.

Kumar has always maintained that it is a fight between ideologies.

Earlier on July 4, she said, "This unity of 17 political parties is based on firm ideological positions - the philosophy, and the value system - which are so dear to me and which are so dear to most of the people of the country. That is why I have decided to make ideology - the lone plank of this contest."

Kumar, along with Kovind, has been campaigning for the upcoming Presidential polls.

Both will campaign in Meghalaya this week.

The election for the next President of India is to be held on July 17. President Pranab Mukherjee will demit office on July 24.