Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, on a six-day visit to India, let his hair down at the Bishop Cotton Boys’ School here on Friday, interacted with students on cricket and even wielded the willow briefly. Accompanied by his wife Laureen, the Canadian Prime Minister learnt the rules of the game at the playground from the school’s cricket team captain, Ankur Biswas of class XII. Mr. Harper later moved to the adjacent ground to play hockey.
While Mr. Harper joined the Bishop Cotton Girls’ camp, Canadian Sports Minister Baljit Gosal joined the Cotton boys’ team. In a 10-minute game of hockey, the Prime Minister’s team lost to the Sports Minister’s team 0-2. The Prime Minister congratulated the Sports Minister on his team’s win, said a release from the State Information Department.
Earlier, Mr. Harper was received at the school gate by students, who had lined up with the Indian tri-colour and Canadian flags.
Principal John P. Zachariah briefed Mr. Harper about the schools, the pupils and their achievements. John S. Sadananda, Bishop of Karnataka, Southern Diocese of the CSI, was present.
After the visit, the Prime Minister’s entourage left for the Philippines in a Royal Canadian Air Force Special Aircraft.
