The Hindu : Front Page : Warm welcome to President

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Thursday, Nov 01, 2007
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Warm welcome to President

Special Correspondent

Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar

Ceremonial welcome: President Pratibha Patil inspects the guard of honour at the Thiruvananthapuram international airport soon after her arrival on a three-day visit to the State on Wednesday. —

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala accorded a warm welcome to President Pratibha Patil, who arrived on her maiden visit to the State, here on Wednesday evening.

The President, who arrived by a special Air Force aircraft, was received by Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, his Cabinet colleagues, political leaders and senior defence, civil and police officials. Governor R.L. Bhatia could not be present to receive the President as he reportedly developed giddiness just when he was about to start for the airport.

The aircraft carrying the President, her husband Devisingh Shekhawat and officials touched down at the airport here exactly at 3.45 p.m. Mr. Achuthanandan received the President with a bouquet.

The President, who is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, was received in the Indian Air Force (IAF) technical area by Air Marshal Y.R. Rane, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command. The President was given the national salute, after which she reviewed an impressive tri-service guard of honour. The President interacted briefly with Ministers and political leaders who were waiting at a specially erected shamiana before leaving for Raj Bhavan in a motorcade.

Among those present to receive her were Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy, Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, Ministers Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, C. Divakaran, M.A. Baby, T.M. Thomas Isaac, M. Vijayakumar, P.K. Sreemathy, K.P. Rajendran, Mathew T. Thomas, Mullakkara Ratnakaran and Mons Joseph, Deputy Speaker Jose Baby, MPs Varkala Radhakrishnan and Pannian Ravindran, Thiruvananthapuram Mayor C. Jayan Babu, MLAs V. Surendan Pillai, V. Sivankutty and Varkala Kahar, and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala.

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