The former External Affairs Minister and veteran Congress leader S.M. Krishna was given a rousing welcome by hundreds of party workers, enthusiasts and legislators on his arrival at the Bengaluru International Airport and up to his residence in Sadashivanagar.
People, especially from the nearby districts such as Mandya, had come in large numbers and more than 300 motorcyclists followed the three-hour procession, disrupting traffic, unmindful of his advise not to come to airport putting people into inconvenience. The former Ministers D.K. Shivakumar and Ramalinga Reddy, MLAs Dinesh Gundu Rao and N.A. Haris, and a large gathering of people with banners raised slogans eulogising his leadership.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president G. Parameshwara, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council S.R. Patil, the former Minister and MLA Maalaka Reddy and party leaders such as V.R. Sudarshan and Basavaraja Rayaraddi presented bouquets to Mr. Krishna at his residence.
Mr. Krishna, who came to the city for the first time after relinquishing his office and looked exasperated, told presspersons that he was moved by the height of love and affection shown by his friends, fans and party workers throughout the route on his way home. Excusing himself for the cancellation of a press conference this evening, he said he had travelled more than eight lakh km during the three and half years of his tenure as Foreign Minister.
The Congress leader said that he had no clarity as to what he should do now, because of the exhaustion, and assured that he would make his mind clear once he took rest. The enthusiasm shown by the people, he said, had only proved that those, who worked with dedication and devotion for the sake of his country, state and people without expecting any fruit, would always be in established in their heart.
The octogenarian leader said that he did have the clarity on how and what he should do to retain this love and affection in the days to come. Asked whether he would like to comment on the present political scenario, especially in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, he said he would comment on it later.
