Coming to the defence of United Progressive Alliance-Left presidential candidate Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] on Wednesday rubbished as "mudslinging" charges of financial irregularities against her saying there was no allegation against her personally.

Dr Singh said there were many other sugar mills in Maharashtra, which faced financial problems and it was not proper to target Pratibha for the same.

"It is mudslinging," he told reporters in Delhi when asked about allegations on default of Rs 17 crore loan taken by a factory headed by her till a decade back.

Dr Singh was talking to reporters after releasing a book at his residence in Delhi.

The prime minister defended his two ministers who attacked President A P J Abdul Kalam after Kalam said he would opt for a second term if there is "certainty" of victory.

"We hold President Kalam in high esteem," Dr Singh said but added the ministers were talking in a particular context when they made the comments against him.

Dr Singh was apparently trying to suggest that once one offers oneself for election, it is not proper to talk about the "certainty" of a win.