President APJ Abdul Kalam said on Sunday during an interaction with the media that he decided against running for a second term as he “did not want to damage the name of the Rashtrapati Bhawan, which has been made into a People’s Bhawan during my tenure”.
“I believe it should be an example for the nation. It should not degenerate. That is why I said enough is enough... I do not want to become party to a political process.”
When asked about non-political persons occupying the office, he observed, “the President should be a good human being so that he or she will enrich the Rashtrapati Bhawan.” His successor, he added, would “bring core competence to make Rashtrapati Bhawan enriched”.
On his political equations with the two Prime Ministers of his tenure, Kalam said each has a core competence.
“Sometimes one person will have decision making (capability), another expertise. A combination will be fantastic.”
The most difficult decision he took was on the Office of Profit Bill: “It became a matter of debate and Parliament took a decision to establish guidelines.” And he wants to be remembered as a “people’s President”.