The Hindu : New Delhi News : Old Fort got the nod as the safest venue

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 04, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Old Fort got the nod as the safest venue

Staff Reporter

Unprecedented security all the way for George Bush

LAST DATE: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and First Lady Laura Bush take their seats for US President George W. Bush's speech at Delhi's Old Fort on Friday. The U.S. President flew to Pakistan after this engagement. PHOTO: AFP

NEW DELHI: There was unprecedented security at Purana Qila here for the U.S. President George Bush's address on Friday. Teeming with security personnel from the khaki-clad Delhi policemen in the outer ring to Secret Agents in black suits and dark-glasses forming the inner ring, the monument remained shut to tourists for the third consecutive day.

The circle office of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) also remained shut for the day for security reasons. With the police having been posted at the fort for a week now, every inch of the monument was searched to ensure that it was `safe'. The K 9 squad especially flown in from the United States had been to the site earlier to sanitise it.

Security agents had shut one of the gates to the entrance to the monument. Only cars that had been cleared on a list were allowed to drive into the monument.

"I don't think that Purana Qila had ever seen so much security. There is never so much security even for the Indian Prime Minister,'' said a policeman standing guard.

It was probably one of the few times that the old fort has been the `star' of such international media attention. Not usually the first choice for international dignitaries, it was competing with Red Fort and Humanyun's Tomb as a possible venue. However, it is believed that the American security officers thought that the old fort was the safest.

While everyone in the ASI is not completely happy with the way things were handled as officials allege they had no control over the monument, the ASI Director-General C. Babu Rajeev said there had been no turf war.

"We were approached by the American Embassy here for permission to hold the function at Purana Qila. After which all co-ordination was handled by FICCI. There has been no problem. Our office was open till Thursday. Only people who are responsible for the maintenance were allowed in on Friday,'' he said.

While there was no major traffic congestion reported, Mahatma Gandhi Road in front of the Rajghat, South-End Road, Akbar Road, Tees January Marg and a part of Mathura Road were blocked for about 15 minutes to allow Mr. Bush's cavalcade to pass.

"The road from Purana Qila to Sundar Nagar was blocked for a few minutes when the President was to arrive, but cross traffic was allowed. The road was re-opened soon,'' said a police official. Shortly after delivering his speech Mr. Bush left for the Palam Technical Area of the Delhi airport to board a flight to Pakistan.

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