The Hindu : Priyanka causes a sensation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 14, 2004

International

International - India & World

Priyanka causes a sensation

KARACHI, MARCH 13. The stands near the VIP enclosure and the media box at the cricket stadium here came alive when Priyanka Vadra, accompanied by husband Robert Vadra and brother Rahul Gandhi, paid a surprise visit.

Cameramen jostled to take the photograph of the much-celebrated political family of India as Priyanka and Rahul waved to the crowd.

Priyanka and her family members, who came to watch the first one-day match today, have been provided the same protocol given to the head of state.

Priyanka, after watching the match from the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, Sharyar Khan's box, suddenly moved out followed by Robert and Rahul much to the surprise and discomfort of the security personnel.

She first went to the left side stands and there was a melee as people wanted to have a glimpse of her. Security men managed to ward off the surging crowd and Priyanka was back in the chairman's box after spending a few minutes in that stand.

Half an hour later she came to the media box and from there she waved the tricolour as the crowd gave her a standing ovation.

An enterprising Indian journalist managed to reach her though the security personnel chased him.

Priyanka told the reporter that she and her family members ``have come here to watch and enjoy the cricket match. There is nothing political.''

The reporter asked if there was any political element (in view of the elections back home) involved in her visit, she said no and then the security personnel asked the journalist to leave.

As long as she sat in the media box, most of the attention was on her rather than the action on the field.

She proudly displayed the tricolour as long as she sat there along with Rahul. Robert was sitting with the Rajya Sabha member, Rajeev Shukla, who is also a working committee member of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

— UNI

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International