Is President Pranab Mukherjee's relationship with the government strained?

The answer is no. An emphatic NO.

There have been rather loud whispers in political circles in New Delhi that all is not well between Rashtrapati Bhavan and 7RCR.  

To counter this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release two books -- selected speeches of the president and another on presidential retreats -- on Friday at  the Darbar Hall inside Rashtrapati Bhavan.

This is an indication that from the BJP's side at least, the relationship is cordial.

But Congress circles refuse to buy it, saying the president's relationship with the PM has been strained in the aftermath of the award wapsi and his statements on intolerance.

The president has referred to growing incidents of intolerance, expressing the apprehension whether tolerance and acceptance of dissent are on the wane in the country. On at least three occasions, the president said humanism and pluralism should not be abandoned under any circumstances.

The PM of course referred to these remarks saying he took guidance from the president's speeches.