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dated September 26, 1956: Nehru in Saudi Arabia

Prime Minister Nehru was accorded a warm and enthusiastic welcome when he flew into Riyadh in an Indian Air Force Viscount plane on a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia on the evening of September 24. Crown Prince Amir Feisal, Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, received the Indian leader who was given a great ovation by a huge gathering present at the airport. Thousands of people gathered at the airport lustily cheered and clapped happily as Mr. Nehru stepped out of the plane and shouts of "Welcome, O! Prophet of Peace," rent the air. Ministers of the Saudi Arabian Government, diplomats and high civil and military officials were present at the airport. Similar scenes were witnessed when the Prime Minister touched the Saudi Arabian soil at Dehran airport an hour earlier. Tens of hundreds of people collected at the airport shouted: "Marhaba Nehru Rassoul Al Salam" (meaning, Welcome Nehru, O! Prophet of Peace). For the first time in the history of this Arab kingdom, a large number of Arab women in strict purdah came to Dahran airport, and again at Riyadh airport an hour later, to welcome a high dignitary of a foreign country. Sitting in curtained trucks and shining cadillacs, these women had a glimpse of Mr. Nehru from behind their veils as he came down the steps. Acknowledging the greetings, Mr. Nehru declared: "I have come as a pilgrim of peace to your famous land."

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