President Pranab Mukherjee concluded his 12-day South Sojourn that began with his arrival here on December 19 and flew back to the national capital from the Air Force Station, Hakimpet.
It included flying visits to Thiruvananthapuram, Allahabad, Agra, Mumbai, Pune and to Puttaparthi and Anantapur, where he participated in the centenary celebrations of former President Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy.
His sojourn was hectic what with leaders of different political parties calling on him and explaining their stance on bifurcation of the State. Considering the volatile political situation, the administration and political leadership did not want to take any chances of Seemandhra and Telangana activists indulging in slogan-shouting or displaying placards. The media was barred from covering the arrival and a heavy screen of security personnel dissuaded people from even standing on the road in the cantonment area all through his stay here. Mr. Mukherjee was given a warm send-off by Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, Chairman of the Legislative Council, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister C. Damodar Rajanarasimha and Mayor Mohd. Majid Hussain. Chief Secretary P.K. Mohanty and DGP B. Prasada Rao were also present.
