Naga All-Women Battalion Impresses The President

Imphal, Mar 12 : The President of India Pratibha Devisingh Patil arrived at the Imphal Airport on a special Indian Air Force flight from Dimapur at around 1.15 pm on a two days maiden visit to Manipur and later rode through the empty streets of Tiddim road upto Raj Bhavan Imphal under tight security arrangement.

The President on her arrival at the airport was accorded a warm reception by the Governor of Manipur Gurbacharan Jagat who was joined by the Chief Minister of the state Okram Ibobi Singh and his council of ministers at the airport and later the she was given guard of honour by a strong contingent of the Manipur Women Police led by the SDPO, Lamphel Police Station Pushpanjali, IPS.

Later the President inspected the guard of honour inside the Imphal Airport. According to an official source, the President of India, had her lunch at Raj Bhavan and attended a call on from the Governor Manipur at Raj Bhavan, Imphal which was followed by another call on by the Chief Minister the evening.

The official source further mentioned that, the President was entertained with cultural programmes at the Raj Bhavan which was followed by a banquet hosted by the state Governor. In the meantime, the President Pratibha Devisingh Patil interacted with representatives of Women Self Help Group along with chairperson, State Social Welfare Board and chairperson, Manipur Women Development Corporation at Raj Bhavan Imphal.

The visiting President of India left Raj Bhavan for Mantripukhri where she unveiled the foundation stone of the IT Park which was followed by the launching of the SWAN Project. She later attend a formal public function at the IT Park Mantripukhri, where chief secretary DS Poonia gave the welcome speech followed by the felicitation of the President.

The Chief Minister followed the felicitation programme after which the President conducted a video conferencing with the Ukhrul district deputy commissioner followed by the deliberation of speech from the Governor Gurbachand Jagat.

She returned to Imphal Airport along the National Highway-39 and Tiddim Road by road under the same tight security arrangement and finally the President departed Imphal at about 11.05 am this morning, the official source added.

The President at the Raj Bhavan during her two day state visit.