Wish I could have come earlier to Rashtrapati Bhavan: Pranab Mukherjee

NEW DELHI: On a hectic day marking completion of one year in office, President PranabMukherjee on Thursday inaugurated a library and sports ground with a small regret that if he had come to RashtrapatiBhavan earlier he could have saved some structures from demolition.

"I thank my team and Secretary Omita Paul for renovating this library (named after him).

"I wish I could have come a little earlier and saved some (structures) from demolition and (they could) be utilised for better purposes," he said addressing families of those who reside in the Rashtrapati Bhavan complex. The gathering included a number of youngsters.

Mukherjee on Thursdayspent close to two hours meeting kids, youngsters and staffers of the Presidential Estate as he dedicated the two facilities and unveiled a bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi near the historic Durbar Hall of the President's house.

The 77-year-old President inaugurated the first ever statue of the father of nation in the Rashtrapati Bhavan which till now only has his portraits.

"Many great people come to this building and the next time they cross over to the Durbar Hall they will pause for a while and their heads will bow down in respect for the great saint," he said.

Mukherjee, during his talk in the library, urged the children and young students to make it a habit to read something everyday. He also gave away the first few membership cards to the staff of the Presidential Estate.

He promised that new publications that reach the Rashtrapati Bhavan will be made available to the 'reference and reading section' of the new library named after him.