‘Treat president as common woman, make no special arrangements’

AGARTALA/AIZAWL - The Rashtrapati Bhavan has asked the Tripura and Mizoram governments not to make any special arrangements for President Pratibha Patil and treat her like a common woman at the functions in the two states, an official said here Wednesday.

The president will visit Mizoram and Tripura Thursday to Saturday to attend the convocations of universities of the two northeastern states and other functions, including civic receptions.

“Instructions were given from the Rashtrapati Bhavan not to arrange special chair for the president,” a senior Tripura government official told IANS on condition of anonymity.

“She wants to be treated as a common woman and does not favour any special mention to her,” the official said, quoting the Rashtrapati Bhavan letter.

“The president would arrive in Aizawl Thursday to attend the sixth convocation of the Mizoram University as chief guest Friday,” a Mizoram government official told reporters.

According to the official, during her two-day stay in Aizawl, Patil would also inaugurate the new state central library and attend a civic reception at the Raj Bhavan.

From Aizawl, the 76-year-old first citizen of India would travel to Tripura’s capital Agartala Friday and attend the eighth convocation of the Tripura University.

Preparations for the president’s visit are on in Tripura and Mizoram. Security was also further tightened in view of the visit.