By IANS
Srinagar : Pratibha Patil, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) presidential nominee, visited Jammu and Kashmir Saturday as Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad pledged full support to her.
Patil was here to meet the legislators of the state's ruling Congress-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) coalition.
She was accompanied by All India Congress Committee (AICC) spokesperson Jayanti Natrajan, Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Prithviraj Chavan and AICC election officer Ashwani Sikri.
Welcoming Patil, the chief minister said she would prove to be a highly able and impartial president under whose guidance the country would get a new direction.
"Mrs. Patil is a thoroughly secular person who respects every religion and shares her love and affection with all communities. Her election as president would give the country a lead even over the US where a woman president is still a debating issue.
"We will be looking forward to your maiden visit soon as president of the country," he told Patil, who is supported by the Left parties and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
The presidential election will be held July 19.
Responding to the support and sentiments expressed by the chief minister, Patil said her election as the first woman president of India would be a historic event after 60 years of India's independence, besides being a victory of millions of its citizens.
She said: "India is an old civilisation and a young republic where people wielded the ultimate power."
She said the country is developing in every field whose gains should reach to the poor, downtrodden, minorities, women and children.