From a collection of 2,500 gifts that she received during her tenure as President, Pratibha Patil has agreed to loan 155 items for an upcoming museum in her home State, Maharashtra.
These gifts can be reclaimed by Rashtrapati Bhavan anytime they are needed again.
On Friday, an official of the President’s Office said, a request was made by the Collector of Amravati, to allow some gifts from Rashtrapati Bhavan to be displayed at themuseum being constructed by the Sports Complex Authority.
“Gifts that are received by the President are retained at the Rashtrapati Bhavan treasury. And this isn’t the first time that the gift items are being loaned. Former Presidents, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma and Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, have also loaned gifts for temporary display,” the official said.
President Patil, who will demit office this month, has political ties with Amravati.
