The Hindu : National : Pratibha to take oath tomorrow

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Tuesday, Jul 24, 2007
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Pratibha to take oath tomorrow

Sandeep Dikshit

NEW DELHI: Armed forces personnel will give President-elect Pratibha Patil and President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam “hazar salam” (a thousand-man salute) along the route from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to the Parliament House, the venue of oath taking, on Wednesday.

This, along with a 21-gun salute, will form the core of the ceremonials by the armed forces to welcome their next Supreme Commander, the first woman to occupy the post.

The proceedings of the day will begin with the President’s Body Guards (PBG) escorting Ms. Patil from her residence to the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Mr. Kalam will join her in the Presidential library and the two will step out to receive a salute from the PBG commanded by Col. Mehmood.

They will leave together in a ceremonial cavalcade through the main gates of the Rashtrapati Bhavan for the Parliament House.

The short stretch will be lined by the 1,000 armed forces personnel — 700 from the Army and 150 each from the Navy and the Air Force.

They will provide the traditional “hazar salam” to both Mr. Kalam and Ms. Patil.

Protocol will be an intrinsic part of the proceedings. While getting into the car at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Mr. Kalam will occupy the left side so that he is nearest to the portals of the main gate of the Parliament House. The order reverses when both come out after Ms. Patil is sworn in President.

This time, Mr. Kalam walks around the car to reach the right passenger door while the new President will get into the car from the left side.

In Parliament too, the two will exchange seats after the ceremony to the background boom of 21 cannon shots.

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