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{{ | {{Short description|President of India from 2007 to 2012}} | ||
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2015}} | {{Use Indian English|date=February 2015}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date= | {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}} | ||
{{Infobox officeholder | {{Infobox officeholder | ||
| name = Pratibha Patil | | name = Pratibha Patil | ||
| Line 18: | Line 18: | ||
| predecessor1 = [[Madan Lal Khurana]] | | predecessor1 = [[Madan Lal Khurana]] | ||
| successor1 = [[Akhlaqur Rahman Kidwai]] | | successor1 = [[Akhlaqur Rahman Kidwai]] | ||
| | | office3 = 9th [[Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha]] | ||
| | | term3 = 18 November 1986 – 5 November 1988 | ||
| | | predecessor3 = [[M. M. Jacob]] | ||
| | | successor3 = [[Najma Heptulla]] | ||
| birth_name = Pratibha | | office2 = [[Member of Parliament]], [[Lok Sabha]] | ||
| term_start2 = 21 June 1991 | |||
| term_end2 = 16 May 1996 | |||
| constituency2 = [[Amravati (Lok Sabha constituency)|Amravati]] | |||
| predecessor2 = [[Sudam Deshmukh]] | |||
| successor2 = [[Anantrao Gudhe]] | |||
| office4 = [[Member of Parliament]], [[Rajya Sabha]] | |||
| term_start4 = 1985 | |||
| term_end4 = 1990 | |||
| constituency4 = [[Maharashtra]] | |||
| office5 = [[Member of the Legislative Assembly]], [[Maharashtra]] | |||
| term_start5 = 1962 | |||
| term_end5 = 1985 | |||
| constituency5 = Jalgaon (1962–67) <br/> Edlabad (1967–85) | |||
| birth_name = Pratibha Narayan Rao Patil | |||
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1934|12|19|df=yes}} | | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1934|12|19|df=yes}} | ||
| birth_place = [[ | | birth_place = [[Nadgaon|Nadgaon Village]] district, [[Bombay Presidency]], [[British Raj|British India]] <br/> (now [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]) | ||
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Devisingh Ramsingh Shekhawat]]|1965}} | | spouse = {{marriage|[[Devisingh Ramsingh Shekhawat]]|1965|24 February 2023|reason=died}} | ||
| children = 2 | |||
| alma_mater = [[Savitribai Phule Pune University|University of Poona]] ([[B.A.|BA]], [[M.A.|MA]])<br />[[University of Bombay]] ([[LLB]]) | | alma_mater = [[Savitribai Phule Pune University|University of Poona]] ([[B.A.|BA]], [[M.A.|MA]])<br />[[University of Bombay]] ([[LLB]]) | ||
| nationality = | | nationality = Indian | ||
| website = {{URL| | | website = {{URL|pratibhapatil.info}} | ||
| term_start = 25 July 2007 | | term_start = 25 July 2007 | ||
| term_end = 25 July 2012 | | term_end = 25 July 2012 | ||
| term_start1 = 8 November 2004 | | term_start1 = 8 November 2004 | ||
| term_end1 = 23 June 2007 | | term_end1 = 23 June 2007 | ||
| parents = | | parents = | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Prathibha Devisingh Patil''' (born 19 December 1934) is an Indian politician and lawyer who served as the [[President of India|12th president of India]] spanning from 2007 to 2012. She is the first woman to become the president of India. A member of the [[Indian National Congress]], she previously served as the [[Governor of Rajasthan]] from 2004 to 2007, and was a member of [[Lok Sabha]] from 1991 to 1996. | |||
''' | |||
==Early life== | ==Early life== | ||
Patil was born in a [[Marathi people|Marathi]] family<ref>{{cite news |last1=PTI |title=Bal Thackeray: The mascot of Marathi pride |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/bal-thackeray-the-mascot-of-marathi-pride-112111700260_1.html |access-date=28 July 2022 |work=Business Standard India |date=17 November 2012}}</ref> on 19 December 1934 in the village of [[Nadgaon| Nadgaon]] in [[Jalgaon district|Jalgaon]], [[Maharashtra]]. She is the daughter of Narayan Rao Patil.<ref name=RajAssembly>{{cite web |title=Ex Governor of Rajasthan |url=http://rajassembly.nic.in/PratibhaPatil.htm |publisher=Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Secretariate |access-date=26 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130804130808/http://rajassembly.nic.in/PratibhaPatil.htm |archive-date=4 August 2013}}</ref> She was educated initially at R. R. Vidyalaya town and subsequently was awarded a master's degree in Political Science and Economics by [[Mooljee Jetha College, Jalgaon|Mooljee Jetha College]], Jalgaon (then under [[Pune University|Poona University]]), and then a Bachelor of Law degree by [[Government Law College, Bombay]], affiliated to the [[University of Bombay]] (now University of Mumbai). Patil then began to practice law at the Jalgaon District Court, while also taking interest in social issues such as improving the conditions faced by Indian women.<ref name=OfficialProfile>{{cite web |title=Profile: President of India |publisher=NIC / President's Secretariat |url=http://india.gov.in/govt/whoswho.php?id=2 |access-date=26 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208101656/http://india.gov.in/govt/whoswho.php?id=2 |archive-date=8 February 2012}}</ref> | |||
Patil married [[Devisingh Ramsingh Shekhawat]] on 7 July 1965. The couple has a daughter, Jyoti Rathore and a son, [[Raosaheb Shekhawat]], who is also a politician.<ref name=RajAssembly /><ref>{{cite news |title=In Amravati, it's about taking revenge for 2009 polls |first=Kunal |last=Purohit |work=Hindustan Times |date=11 October 2014 |url=http://www.hindustanitimes.com/india/in-amravati-it-is-about-taking-revenge-for-2009-polls/story-CaoFU6bvG2TS6tYEUdCGTJ.html |access-date=11 January 2016}}</ref> | |||
Patil married [[Devisingh Ramsingh Shekhawat]] on 7 July 1965. The couple has a daughter, | |||
==Political career== | ==Political career== | ||
In 1962, at the age of 27, she was elected to the [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]] for the [[Jalgaon City (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Jalgaon constituency]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Ritu Singh|title=President Pratibha Patil: India's First Woman President|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pk5osTwvBPcC|year=2007|publisher=Rajpal & Sons|isbn=978-81-7028-705-6|page=52}}</ref> After that she won in the [[Muktainagar (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Muktainagar]] (formerly Edlabad) constituency on four consecutive occasions between 1967 and 1985, before becoming a [[Member of Parliament]] in the [[Rajya Sabha]] between 1985 and 1990. In the [[1991 Indian general election|1991 elections]] for the [[10th Lok Sabha]], she was elected as a Member of Parliament representing the [[Amravati (Lok Sabha constituency)|Amravati constituency]].<ref name=OfficialProfile /> A period of retirement from politics followed later in the decade.<ref name=BBC20070721>{{cite news |publisher=BBC |title=Profile: Pratibha Patil |date=21 July 2007 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/6910097.stm |access-date=26 June 2012}}</ref> | |||
In 1962, at the age of 27, she was elected to the [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]] for the [[Jalgaon City (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Jalgaon constituency]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Ritu Singh|title=President Pratibha Patil: India's First Woman President|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pk5osTwvBPcC|year=2007|publisher=Rajpal & Sons|isbn=978-81-7028-705-6|page=52}}</ref> | |||
Patil had held various Cabinet portfolios during her period in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and held official positions in both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. In addition, she had been the president of the [[Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee]] for a few years. Also, she held office as Director of the National Federation of Urban Co-operative Banks and Credit Societies and as a Member of the Governing Council of the National Co-operative Union of India.<ref name=RajAssembly /> | |||
== | On 8 November 2004 she was appointed the 17th Governor of Rajasthan,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://rajassembly.nic.in/govphoto.htm |title= Former Governors of Rajasthan |publisher= Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Secretariat |access-date= 26 June 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120417094946/http://www.rajassembly.nic.in/govphoto.htm |archive-date= 17 April 2012 |url-status= dead }}</ref> the first woman to hold that office.<ref name=NDTV20070614 /> | ||
== | ==Presidential election== | ||
{{Main|2007 Indian presidential election}} | {{Main|2007 Indian presidential election}} | ||
Patil was announced as the [[United Progressive Alliance]] (UPA) candidate on 14 June 2007. She emerged as a compromise candidate after the left-wing parties of the alliance would not agree to the nomination of former [[Minister of Home Affairs (India)|Home Minister]] [[Shivraj Patil]] or [[Karan Singh]].<ref name=NDTV20070614>{{cite news |url=http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070015515&ch=6/14/2007%206:54:00%20PM |title=Prez polls: Sonia announces Pratibha Patil's name |publisher=NDTV |date=14 June 2007 |access-date=3 July 2012}}</ref> Patil had been loyal to the INC and the [[Nehru–Gandhi family]] for decades and this was considered to be a significant factor in her selection by INC leader [[Sonia Gandhi]], although Patil said that she had no intention of being a "rubber-stamp president".<ref name=BBC20070721 /><ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1103782 |work=Daily News & Analysis |title=I will not be a rubber stamp President |date=16 June 2007 |agency=PTI |access-date=11 January 2016}}</ref> | Patil was announced as the [[United Progressive Alliance]] (UPA) candidate on 14 June 2007. She emerged as a compromise candidate after the left-wing parties of the alliance would not agree to the nomination of former [[Minister of Home Affairs (India)|Home Minister]] [[Shivraj Patil]] or [[Karan Singh]].<ref name=NDTV20070614>{{cite news |url=http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070015515&ch=6/14/2007%206:54:00%20PM |title=Prez polls: Sonia announces Pratibha Patil's name |publisher=NDTV |date=14 June 2007 |access-date=3 July 2012}}</ref> Patil had been loyal to the INC and the [[Nehru–Gandhi family]] for decades and this was considered to be a significant factor in her selection by INC leader [[Sonia Gandhi]], although Patil said that she had no intention of being a "rubber-stamp president".<ref name=BBC20070721 /><ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1103782 |work=Daily News & Analysis |title=I will not be a rubber stamp President |date=16 June 2007 |agency=PTI |access-date=11 January 2016}}</ref> | ||
In the same month that she was selected | In the same month that she was selected as a member of the UPA, Patil was accused of shielding her brother, G. N. Patil, in the 2005 [[Vishram Patil murder case]]. Vishram Patil had narrowly defeated G. N. Patil in an election to be the President of the District Congress Committee of Jalgaon and in September of that year had been murdered. Vishram Patil's widow eventually accused G. N. Patil of involvement in the crime and claimed that Pratibha Patil had influenced the criminal investigation and that the issue needed to be examined before presidential immunity became active.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/story/160239.html |title=Congman's wife drags Pratibha name into allegations, NDA distances itself |date=22 June 2007 |work=The Indian Express |access-date=10 January 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830100549/http://www.indianexpress.com/story/160239.html |archive-date=30 August 2008 }}</ref> Her accusations were rejected by the courts in 2009<ref>{{cite news |agency=IANS |work=Thaindian |url=http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/court-dismisses-lawsuit-against-presidents-brother_100287917.html |date=11 December 2009 |title=Court dismisses lawsuit against president's brother |access-date=10 January 2016 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305014253/http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/court-dismisses-lawsuit-against-presidents-brother_100287917.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> but in 2015 G. N. Patil was charged. No reference to the alleged involvement of Pratibha Patil was made at this time.<ref>{{cite news |title=Court summons brother of Pratibha Patil in murder case |date=8 July 2014 |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/court-summons-brother-of-pratibha-patil-in-murder-case/#sthash.y82k7pVV.dpuf |work=The Indian Express |access-date=10 January 2016}}</ref> | ||
Due to the presidential role being largely a [[figurehead]] position, the selection of the candidate is often arranged by consensus among the various political parties and the candidate runs unopposed.<ref>{{cite news |title = Patil Poised to Become India's First Female President |first=Bibhudatta |last=Pradhan |publisher=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=aHJhXtWRZ4bA&refer=india |date=19 July 2007 |access-date=2 July 2012}}</ref> Contrary to the normal pattern of events, Patil faced a challenge in the election. The BBC described the situation as "the latest casualty of the country's increasingly partisan politics and [it] highlights what is widely seen as an acute crisis of leadership". It "degenerated into unseemly mudslinging between the ruling party and the opposition".<ref name=BBC20070713 /> Her challenger was [[Bhairon Singh Shekhawat]], the incumbent vice-president and a [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) veteran. Shekhawat stood as an independent candidate and was supported by the [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]] (NDA), a group led by the BJP,<ref name=BBC20070719>{{cite news |date=19 July 2007 |publisher=BBC |title=Indian MPs vote for new president |access-date=2 July 2012 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6905905.stm}}</ref> although the [[Shiv Sena]] party, which was a part of NDA, supported her because of her [[Marathi people|Marathi]] origin.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/26/stories/2007062651100100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629015754/http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/26/stories/2007062651100100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 June 2007 |title=Shiv Sena backs Pratibha Patil |first=Meena |last=Menon |date=26 June 2007 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=4 February 2014}}</ref> | Due to the presidential role being largely a [[figurehead]] position, the selection of the candidate is often arranged by consensus among the various political parties and the candidate runs unopposed.<ref>{{cite news |title = Patil Poised to Become India's First Female President |first=Bibhudatta |last=Pradhan |publisher=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=aHJhXtWRZ4bA&refer=india |date=19 July 2007 |access-date=2 July 2012}}</ref> Contrary to the normal pattern of events, Patil faced a challenge in the election. The BBC described the situation as "the latest casualty of the country's increasingly partisan politics and [it] highlights what is widely seen as an acute crisis of leadership". It "degenerated into unseemly mudslinging between the ruling party and the opposition".<ref name=BBC20070713 /> Her challenger was [[Bhairon Singh Shekhawat]], the incumbent vice-president and a [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) veteran. Shekhawat stood as an independent candidate and was supported by the [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]] (NDA), a group led by the BJP,<ref name=BBC20070719>{{cite news |date=19 July 2007 |publisher=BBC |title=Indian MPs vote for new president |access-date=2 July 2012 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6905905.stm}}</ref> although the [[Shiv Sena]] party, which was a part of NDA, supported her because of her [[Marathi people|Marathi]] origin.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/26/stories/2007062651100100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629015754/http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/26/stories/2007062651100100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 June 2007 |title=Shiv Sena backs Pratibha Patil |first=Meena |last=Menon |date=26 June 2007 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=4 February 2014}}</ref> | ||
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Those opposed to Patil becoming president claimed that she lacked charisma, experience, and ability. They also highlighted her time spent away from high-level politics and queried her belief in the supernatural, such as her claim to have received a message from [[Dada Lekhraj]], a dead [[guru]].<ref name=BBC20070721 /><ref name=BBC20070713 /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Pratibha_believes_in_spirits/articleshow/2152156.cms |title=Pratibha believes in spirits? |work=The Times of India |date=27 June 2007 |first=Himanshi |last=Dhawan |access-date=11 January 2016}}</ref> Various specific issues were raised, such as a comment made by her in 1975 that those suffering from hereditary diseases should be sterilized.<ref name=BBC20070721 /> Another alleged that while a Member of Parliament for Amravati she diverted Rs 3.6 million from her [[MPLADS]] fund to a trust run by her husband. This was in violation of Government rules which barred MPs from providing funds to organization's run by their relatives.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1107938 |work=DNA |title=Now, a land grab haunts Patil |date=4 July 2007 |access-date=11 January 2016}}</ref> The parliamentary affairs minister denied any wrongdoing on Patils' part, and noted that the funds are used under MPLADS, by the [[Comptroller and Auditor General of India]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/story/203981.html |title=For family again: Patil's MP funds for sports complex on land leased to husband society |work=Indian Express |date=6 July 2007 |access-date=11 January 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012221143/http://www.indianexpress.com/story/203981.html |archive-date=12 October 2007 }}</ref> | Those opposed to Patil becoming president claimed that she lacked charisma, experience, and ability. They also highlighted her time spent away from high-level politics and queried her belief in the supernatural, such as her claim to have received a message from [[Dada Lekhraj]], a dead [[guru]].<ref name=BBC20070721 /><ref name=BBC20070713 /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Pratibha_believes_in_spirits/articleshow/2152156.cms |title=Pratibha believes in spirits? |work=The Times of India |date=27 June 2007 |first=Himanshi |last=Dhawan |access-date=11 January 2016}}</ref> Various specific issues were raised, such as a comment made by her in 1975 that those suffering from hereditary diseases should be sterilized.<ref name=BBC20070721 /> Another alleged that while a Member of Parliament for Amravati she diverted Rs 3.6 million from her [[MPLADS]] fund to a trust run by her husband. This was in violation of Government rules which barred MPs from providing funds to organization's run by their relatives.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1107938 |work=DNA |title=Now, a land grab haunts Patil |date=4 July 2007 |access-date=11 January 2016}}</ref> The parliamentary affairs minister denied any wrongdoing on Patils' part, and noted that the funds are used under MPLADS, by the [[Comptroller and Auditor General of India]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/story/203981.html |title=For family again: Patil's MP funds for sports complex on land leased to husband society |work=Indian Express |date=6 July 2007 |access-date=11 January 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012221143/http://www.indianexpress.com/story/203981.html |archive-date=12 October 2007 }}</ref> | ||
Patil won the election held on 19 July 2007. She garnered nearly two-thirds of the votes<ref>{{cite news |title=First female president for India |date=21 July 2007 |publisher=BBC |access-date=3 July 2012 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6909979.stm}}</ref> and | [[File:The Chief Justice of India Shri K.G. Balakrishnan administering the oath of the office of the President of India to Smt. Pratibha Patil at a swearing-in ceremony in the central hall of Parliament, in New Delhi.jpg|thumb|The Chief Justice of India Shri [[K.G. Balakrishnan]] administering the oath of the office of the President of India to Smt. Pratibha Patil at a swearing-in ceremony in the central hall of Parliament, in New Delhi.]] | ||
Patil won the election held on 19 July 2007. She garnered nearly two-thirds of the votes<ref>{{cite news |title=First female president for India |date=21 July 2007 |publisher=BBC |access-date=3 July 2012 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6909979.stm}}</ref> and, on 25 July 2007, took oath as India's 12th President, the first woman to hold the position.<ref name="CBS">{{cite web |last=Reals |first=Tucker |date=21 July 2007 |title=India's First Woman President Elected |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/indias-first-woman-president-elected/ |access-date=30 July 2015 |website=CBS News}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Turner |first1=B. |title=The Statesman's Yearbook 2009: The Politics, Cultures and Economies of the World |date=12 January 2017 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-1-349-74027-7 |page=605 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ipPlDQAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref> | |||
==Presidency == | |||
[[File:The President, Smt. Pratibha Patil addressing the Nation on the eve of 61st Independence Day, in New Delhi on August 14, 2007.jpg|thumb|President Patil addressing the Indians on the eve of Independence Day, 2007]] | |||
Patil's term as the President of India saw various controversies and is widely considered as lacklustre.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/president-pratibha-patils-brush-with-controversy/248154-3.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415060824/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/president-pratibha-patils-brush-with-controversy/248154-3.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 April 2012 |title=President Pratibha Patil's brush with controversy |work=IBN Live |date=12 April 2012 |access-date=14 April 2013}}</ref> She [[commutation (law)|commuted]] death sentences of 35 petitioners to life, a record. President's Office, however, defended this by saying that President had granted clemency to the petitioners after due consideration and examining the advice of the Home Ministry.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-26/india/32424345_1_death-row-convicts-clemency-home-minister| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922230404/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-26/india/32424345_1_death-row-convicts-clemency-home-minister| url-status=dead| archive-date=22 September 2013| work=[[The Times of India]]|title=President defends mercy spree to death row convicts |date=26 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-22/india/32367604_1_pardons-mercy-petitions-molai-ram |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605212805/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-22/india/32367604_1_pardons-mercy-petitions-molai-ram |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 June 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]] |title=President Pratibha Patil goes on mercy overdrive |date=22 June 2012}}</ref> | Patil's term as the President of India saw various controversies and is widely considered as lacklustre.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/president-pratibha-patils-brush-with-controversy/248154-3.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415060824/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/president-pratibha-patils-brush-with-controversy/248154-3.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 April 2012 |title=President Pratibha Patil's brush with controversy |work=IBN Live |date=12 April 2012 |access-date=14 April 2013}}</ref> She [[commutation (law)|commuted]] death sentences of 35 petitioners to life, a record. President's Office, however, defended this by saying that President had granted clemency to the petitioners after due consideration and examining the advice of the Home Ministry.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-26/india/32424345_1_death-row-convicts-clemency-home-minister| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922230404/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-26/india/32424345_1_death-row-convicts-clemency-home-minister| url-status=dead| archive-date=22 September 2013| work=[[The Times of India]]|title=President defends mercy spree to death row convicts |date=26 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-22/india/32367604_1_pardons-mercy-petitions-molai-ram |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605212805/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-22/india/32367604_1_pardons-mercy-petitions-molai-ram |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 June 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]] |title=President Pratibha Patil goes on mercy overdrive |date=22 June 2012}}</ref> | ||
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The Office of President has a five-year term<ref name=BBC20070713>{{cite news |publisher=BBC |access-date=3 July 2012 |date=13 July 2007 |title=India's muckraking presidential poll |first=Soutik |last=Biswas |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6294238.stm}}</ref> and Patil retired from the role in July 2012.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pratibha Patil gets retirement home in Pune |first=Alka |last=Kshirsagar |date=25 June 2012 |work=Business Line |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/economy/article3569095.ece |access-date=26 June 2012}}</ref> | The Office of President has a five-year term<ref name=BBC20070713>{{cite news |publisher=BBC |access-date=3 July 2012 |date=13 July 2007 |title=India's muckraking presidential poll |first=Soutik |last=Biswas |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6294238.stm}}</ref> and Patil retired from the role in July 2012.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pratibha Patil gets retirement home in Pune |first=Alka |last=Kshirsagar |date=25 June 2012 |work=Business Line |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/economy/article3569095.ece |access-date=26 June 2012}}</ref> | ||
Patil allegedly used public funds to build a retirement mansion on a {{convert|260000|sqft|m2}} plot of military land in [[Pune]].Tradition is that a retiring president either takes residence in Government accommodation in Delhi or moves back to their residence in their home state;her use of government money to build a retirement home at the end of the presidential term was unprecedented.<ref>{{cite news|work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Pratibhas-Pune-home-a-break-from-tradition/articleshow/12668229.cms |title=Pratibha's Pune home a break from tradition |first=Josy |last=Joseph |date=15 April 2012 |access-date=10 January 2016}}</ref> Other controversies that arose after her retirement included her desire to claim both an official government car and fuel allowance for the running of a private car, despite rules clearly stipulating that this was an either/or situation. She also took possession of many gifts that had been given to her in her official role and was later forced to return them.<ref>{{cite news |first=D. P. |last=Satish |title=Former President Pratibha Patil wants both car & fuel from government |date=29 July 2015|work=IBN Live |url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/former-president-pratibha-patil-wants-both-car-fuel-from-government-1027151.html |access-date=11 January 2016}}</ref> | Patil allegedly used public funds to build a retirement mansion on a {{convert|260000|sqft|m2}} plot of military land in [[Pune]]. Tradition is that a retiring president either takes residence in Government accommodation in Delhi or moves back to their residence in their home state; her use of government money to build a retirement home at the end of the presidential term was unprecedented.<ref>{{cite news|work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Pratibhas-Pune-home-a-break-from-tradition/articleshow/12668229.cms |title=Pratibha's Pune home a break from tradition |first=Josy |last=Joseph |date=15 April 2012 |access-date=10 January 2016}}</ref> Other controversies that arose after her retirement included her desire to claim both an official government car and fuel allowance for the running of a private car, despite rules clearly stipulating that this was an either/or situation. She also took possession of many gifts that had been given to her in her official role and was later forced to return them.<ref>{{cite news |first=D. P. |last=Satish |title=Former President Pratibha Patil wants both car & fuel from government |date=29 July 2015|work=IBN Live |url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/former-president-pratibha-patil-wants-both-car-fuel-from-government-1027151.html |access-date=11 January 2016}}</ref> | ||
[[File:The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil with Queen Elizabeth II and Duke of Edinburgh before the State Banquet hosted by The Queen Elizabeth-II at Windsor Castle, in London on October 27, 2009.jpg|thumb|President Patil and her husband with the Queen and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle, 2009]] | |||
==Business interests== | ==Business interests== | ||
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| Deputy Minister, Public Health, Prohibition, Tourism, Housing & Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Maharashtra | | Deputy Minister, Public Health, Prohibition, Tourism, Housing & Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Maharashtra | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |1972–79 | ||
| Cabinet Minister, Social Welfare, Government of Maharashtra | | Cabinet Minister, Social Welfare, Government of Maharashtra | ||
|- | |- | ||
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==Honours== | ==Honours== | ||
* [[File:MEX_Orden_del_Aguila_Azteca_2011_Banda_Especial_BAR.svg|60px]] : Special Category | * {{flag|Mexico}} [[File:MEX_Orden_del_Aguila_Azteca_2011_Banda_Especial_BAR.svg|60px]]: ''Sash of Special Category'', [[Order of the Aztec Eagle]] (awarded 3 August 2018 - presented 1 June 2019).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.google.com/search?q=pratibha+patil|title=Former President Pratibha Patil awarded Mexico's highest civilian honour for foreigners|publisher=The Indian Express|date=1 June 2019|access-date=1 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5533864&fecha=03/08/2018|title=ACUERDO por el que se otorga la Condecoración de la Orden Mexicana del Águila Azteca, en grado de Banda en Categoría Especial, a la Excelentísima Señora Pratibha Devisingh Patil, expresidenta de la República de la India|website=Diario Oficial de la Federación|access-date=1 June 2019}}</ref> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
* [http://presidentofindia.nic.in/ President of India Official Site] | * [http://presidentofindia.nic.in/ President of India Official Site] | ||
* [http://pratibhapatil.nic.in/ ex-President of India Pratibha Patil's Official Site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519081458/http://pratibhapatil.nic.in/ |date=19 May 2018 }} | * [http://pratibhapatil.nic.in/ ex-President of India Pratibha Patil's Official Site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519081458/http://pratibhapatil.nic.in/ |date=19 May 2018 }} | ||
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[[Category:Pratibha Patil| ]] | [[Category:Pratibha Patil| ]] | ||
[[Category:1934 births]] | [[Category:1934 births]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:India MPs 1991–1996]] | ||
[[Category:20th-century Indian women politicians]] | [[Category:20th-century Indian women politicians]] | ||
[[Category:20th-century Indian politicians]] | [[Category:20th-century Indian politicians]] | ||