India needs a president, who can apply a healing touch, protect the Constitution: Congress

A statement issued by the grand old party said that party chief Sonia Gandhi had reached out and deliberated the issue of the upcoming presidential election with Opposition leaders, including Sharad Pawar and Mamata Banerjee.

It said the Congress President has deputed Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge to co-ordinate with other leaders in view of her ill health, owing to Covid-19.

"Congress is of the opinion that the Nation needs a person as president, who can protect the Constitution, our institutions, and citizenry from the ongoing onslaught by the ruling party," it added.

As per the statement, "This is the need of the hour. While Congress has not suggested a particular name, we owe it to our people to elect a president, who can apply a healing touch to its fractured social fabric and defend our Constitution.

"The time is ripe to rise above our differences for the sake of our Nation and its people," it said, adding that discussions and deliberations have to be open-minded and in keeping with this spirit.

"We believe that INC, along with other political parties, should take this discussion forward," said the statement.

On Saturday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee invited leaders from over 20 political parties for a discussion on the presidential elections on June 15.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) had recently announced that the elections to elect the 16th President of the country will be held on July 18. 

(With inputs from UNI)