President of India in Bihar
Patna: February 15, 2008
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President of India in Bihar
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Photo by Shashi Uttam |
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President Pratibha Patil who arrived at Bodh Gaya on Friday on a 2-day trip to Bihar, took part in an inter-university cultural program organized by Magadh University and praised Bihar for its long and rich academic history saying the state deserved a much better fate than it had undergone in the last couple of decades.
"Bihar has attracted knowledge-seekers from all over the world and has a long heritage of art and culture. We all should work towards further enriching the future of the state," Patil said.
The event was inaugurated by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi and Education Minister Brishan Patel also spoke on the occasion.
From Gaya, the President, accompanied by Bihar Governor R. S. Gavai and Art and Culture Minister Janardan Singh Sigriwal, took a short helicopter ride to Rajgir and Nalanda and visited the ancient Nalanda University where she was introduced to the history of the area by the Geological Survey of India president Dr. Phanikant Mishra.
Mrs. Patil then returned to Bodh Gaya and paid a visit to the Mahabodhi Temple and prayed inside the sanctum sanctorum of the holy shrine.
At 5:35 pm, the President's helicopter landed at Patna Airport followed by the chopper carrying the Governor and his wife and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Members of the Danapur Regiment gave a guard of honor to the President who was received by the former Chief Minister of Bihar Mrs. Rabri Devi, Patna Mayor Sanjay Kumar, chairpersons of the Bihar Assembly and the State Legislative Uday Narain Chowdhary and Prof. Arun Kumar respectively.
The President, after being introduced to the Bihar Cabinet, attended a tea party hosted by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and his wife at their residence and exchanged gifts with them. She was also introduced to other Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leaders including Abdul Bari Siddiqui and Shyam Rajak.
Later in the evening, a feast in honor of the President was organized at the Governor's mansion and was attended by Bihar leaders including the Railway Minister and his wife, and the Chief Minister.
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