The President, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee has said that preservation and protection of the constitution is utmost necessary for all round progress of the country. Speaking in reply to a public reception given to him by the West Bengal government in Kolkata this evening, Mr. Mukherjee said that deviation from the path of constitution has to be stopped at any cost. The President said that he will spend all office energy to protect, preserve and to defend the constitution. Terming the Indian Constitution as most magnificent, magna-carta of socio-economic transformation, the President sought the blessings of the people for upholding it. Our Kolkata Correspondent reports that the State Governor, Mr. M.K.Narayanan, Chief Minister, Ms. Mamta Banerjee and distinguished personalities from the field of education, industries, sports, art and culture felicitated Mr. Mukherjee at the function after becoming the first President from Bengal. This is the first visit of Mr. Mukherjee to his home state West Bengal after assuming the top post.

The President will be visiting the Kharagpur IIT to attend the annual convocation ceremony of the Institute tomorrow. Among others who will be present at the convocation ceremony are the West Bengal Governor, Mr. M.K.Narayanan, the Human Resources Development Minister, Mr. Kapil Sibal, the Union Civil Aviation Minister, Mr. Ajit Singh and the Railway Minister, Mr. Mukul Roy.