By IANS
Nashik : President Pratibha Patil Wednesday emphasized the need to pay greater attention to research in fundamental sciences in the country.
“Even as the country is making great strides in the field of technology, research in fundamental sciences is being neglected,” the president said while dedicating the Bhujbal Knowledge City to the people at Adgaon near this Maharashtra city.
The president said the pursuit of knowledge should not be directed towards creation of wealth alone but for building moral character of society.
Later in the day, the president inaugurated the silver jubilee functions of the Nashik Municipal Corporation and the weeklong Nashik Festival.
Complementing the civic authorities for the spectacular, all-round development of the city, Patil expressed gratification at the fact that the municipal corporation was formed during her tenure as Maharashtra’s urban development minister in 1982.
The president, who arrived here Monday night, inaugurated the ‘Ashvamedh’ Sports Festival organized by the Yashwantrao Chavan Mukt Vidyapeeth (Open University) Tuesday. Nearly 2,500 students from 19 universities in the state are participating in the sports event.
The president was accompanied at the two functions by Maharashtra Governor S.M. Krishna, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and Maharashtra Public Works Minister Chhagan Bhujbal. Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh was with Patil when she paid obeisance at the famous Shirdi Temple near here Tuesday.
She flew back to Delhi Wednesday evening.