Pranab seeks divine intervention ahead of Presidential battle

A troubled economy, freefall of the rupee, and add to it the political pressure in the race to Raisina Hill. Perhaps for a respite from the concerns, the United Progressive Alliance’s (UPA) Presidential aspirant Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday sought divine intervention at Belur Math, the headquarters of Ramakrishna Math and Mission.

Though Mukherjee reiterated that he has spoken to “the RBI Governor and Finance Secretary and certain corrective measures will be taken” to check the freefall of the rupee and is “concerned about the situation”, the finance minister on Sunday shied away from the economy and the media to seek solace at Belur Math.

 

Saluting small receptions by party members in Howrah district, Mukherjee reached the headquarters of Ramakrishna Math and Mission around 11.30 am and spent almost an hour through rituals and seeking blessings at Sri Ramakrishna Temple, Swami Vivekananda Temple, Holy Mother's temple and Swami Brahmananda’s temple.

As if ready for yet another major political battle, coming out of the Sri Ramakrishna Temple, he waved and gave a photo opportunity for 200-odd people crowded outside the temple. What his son and Congress MLA Abhijit Mukherjee termed as a “personal visit for offering prayers”, however turned out to be a curtain raiser for Presidential polls considering the reception he got throughout the way from Dhakuria to Belur, with people crowding on both sides of the road.

According to sources, the Math authorities gifted the minister a dhoti, that was used to drape Sri Ramakrishna’s idol showing a rare coincidence to Mamata Banerjee’s visit last year after the elections, when she was gifted a saree. In his meeting with the Math president Swami Atmasthananda, the Presidential hopeful has enquired about the progress of celebrations of 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

Abhijit Mukherjee, an alumnus of the Ramakrishna Mission Boys’ Home at Rahara, too accompanied his father to Belur Math. After winning the Assembly elections, Mukherjee’s son too had visited the Math. Mukherjee, who is going to step down as the finance minister on June 26, had a courtesy visit to meet West Bengal Governor M K Narayanan at Raj Bhavan in the afternoon.

When asked about this, a party insider said, “This was purely his personal visit. He will only meet chief minister Mamata Banerjee after filing the nominations later this week.”

Seeks support from all political parties
Meanwhile, Mukherjee appealed support from all political parties, without naming the Trinamool Congress, for the upcoming Presidential polls. “I am the UPA’s Presidential candidate, and I seek support from all political parties, who have not yet decided on their stand,” he said.