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Anand Sharma defends Patil taking kin along on foreign trip | Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma on Monday described reports
criticizing President Pratibha Devisingh Patil for taking her relatives to Seychelles
and South Africa as unfortunate. "It's very unfortunate that President's visit
has been dragged into any such discussion or controversy. The Rashtrapati does
not undertake a visit on his or her willingness, it's always a decision of the
government. And when other Heads of States also travel whether to India or other
parts of the world, their entourage is never called into question," said Sharma.
"And it is always the President's and the Vice President's visit a part of the
high-level visits, which have been carefully planned. The External Affairs Ministry
and the government take all the aspects of a bilateral strategic nature into consideration
while planning such visits. So, I fail to understand that why a controversy has
been kicked up," he added. Sharma further said it is unfortunate that this issue
has been raised when President Patil is traveling to South Africa for the two
nations have a deepening engagement with each other. "It is unfortunate, and particularly
when the Rashtrapati is traveling abroad that to in South Africa , which is a
strategic partner of India . Our two countries work together under IBSA, we have
a deepening engagement. Heads of States should be given respect and their state
visits should not be a matter of controversy," he added. President Patil is presently
in South Africa on the second leg of her nine-day tour after concluding her 'landmark'
visit to Seychelles . Her two grandchildren are with her.
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