Former president Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday said he was “deeply touched” by the letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the end of his five-year term. Sharing the letter on social media, Kovind said that he takes “his kind and heartfelt words as a reflection of love and respect fellow citizens have showered on me.”
In the letter, PM Modi extended his deepest gratitude on behalf of the entire nation for his "outstanding service as the President" of India and for a "long and distinguished career in public life."
"You set the highest standards of principles, probity and performance, and of sensitivity and service".
Modi recalled their recent visit to Kovind’s village, Paraunkh, in the Kanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, and his special gesture to receive the prime minister at the helipad. He also termed Kovind’s gesture of visiting prime minister’s mother Heeraben at her residence during his Gujarat visit in 2019 “equally special”.
“I will never forget our visit to Paraunkh a few weeks ago. I was particularly touched to see how you had donated your family residence to help others, especially those belonging to the poor and marginalised sections of society. It was equally heartening to see you retain the deep connect with your roots and the affection the people showered upon you. Your special gesture of coming to receive me at the helipad will remain etched in my memory forever,” the letter read.
“Equally special was your gesture of visiting my mother and talking to her on several issues. It showed your deep-rooted commitment to the value-systems integral to our land.”
{{/usCountry}}“Equally special was your gesture of visiting my mother and talking to her on several issues. It showed your deep-rooted commitment to the value-systems integral to our land.”
{{/usCountry}}The former president wrote on Twitter, “This letter from Prime Minister @narendramodi has deeply touched me. I take his kind and heartfelt words as a reflection of love and respect fellow citizens have showered on me. I am sincerely grateful to you all.”
On Monday, Kovind was succeeded by former Jharkhand governor Droupadi Murmu, who became India’s first tribal leader and the second woman to be the head of state.