Who can forge his own signature? Pranab asks

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UPA's presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday rejected BJP's charge that his letter of resignation from the Indian Statistical Institute was 'fabricated'.

"All these issues have been represented by my authorised representatives before the Returning Officer... and the Returning Officer has responded to that", Mukharjee, here to canvass support of MLAs and MPs from Kerala, told reporters.

Responding to BJP's charge, Mukherjee countered "Who had forged my signature? I myself? I do not know what they have said. Who can forge his own signature? This issue we have debated at the office of the Returning Officer and the Returning Officer responded to that."

"How can somebody lodge a complaint that you forged your own signature?," he said.

In a fresh offensive against Mukherjee, BJP had yesterday said his letter of resignation from the ISI was 'fabricated' and it was considering legal options.

Alleging that the resignation letter was prepared at the last minute only to save his nomination, the party asked Mukherjee and eminent scientist MGK Menon, who is the President of the Institute, to come clean on the issue.

Asked why UPA could not ensure the support of Trinamool Congress to his candidature, Mukherjee said every political party took decision on its assessment of the prevailing political situation. "I hope she (Mamata Bannerjee) will take a decision at the appropriate time and her decision will be in my favour".

On the support extended by CPI(M), he said presidential election was not fought on policy matters which were debated during the general election.

"Every political party considered the political reality and assessed the prevailing situation and take decisions," he said.

Asked if CPI(M) backing him would be taken as support for his economic policies, he said 'no', adding "economic policies are not that of Pranab Mukherjee but that of UPA-II."

On how he rated himself as a finance minister, he said it was for the people, political activists and the media to do so.

"The President does not have politics and does not belong to any political party. That is why UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi gave me a send-off from Congress Working Committee".

Asked when he thought India's economic situation was going to turn around, he first said 'no comment' but hastened to add that "it is for my successor to respond to this question."

Meanwhile, rival P.A. Sangma had demanded a copy of the Returning Officer's detailed order rejecting his objection to the Congress leader's candidature.