I was personally opposed to Office of Profit Bill: Kalam

A P J Abdul Kalam, who became the first President to return a bill to the Parliament, has said that his decision to send back the legislation on Office of Profit was to convey his personal opposition.

Kalam, who demitted office in July, said he was aware that it was the first time in the history of the Parliamentary system that a bill was being sent back and contended that he had to do it.

"I knew that this was the first time ever. That is why I returned the Office of Profit Bill back to Parliament with a note that I had to do it. And I have done that," he said in an interview on Wednesday.

"Yes I sent a message," he said when asked why he sent the bill back to Parliament.

"I also wrote a letter saying why I am sending it back. Then they formed a team to evolve the principles," said Kalam. The former president had earlier described returning the Office of Profit bill as the most difficult decision of his tenure.

He also answered critics over the delay in deciding on the mercy plea of Mohammed Afzal Guru, who is facing the death sentence for his role in the terror attack on Parliament, contending he had not received any papers from the government.

"I will go with whatever the law needs. As far as the Afzal case is concerned, it had not come to me. As long as I was president, it had not come to me," said the former President.

Asked about his personal opinion on capital punishment, he said, "Definitely, on the death penalty, I have a personal opinion. And that is that it needs a debate in Parliament."