Port Blair, Jan 11: The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee was accorded a warm welcome on his arrival in these Islands today. The President was received by the Lt. Governor, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) A K Singh, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, as soon as he alighted from the Air Force Plane at Utkrosh here this afternoon. The President was presented an impressive 150 men Tri Services Guard of Honour by the Andaman & Nicobar Command. A 21 gun salute was fired in honour of the President by the Naval Coast Battery at Ross Island to commemorate the visit.
Among others present to receive the President included, the Member of Parliament, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, the Commander-in-Chief, A&N Command, Air Marshall P K Roy, the Chief Secretary, Shri Anand Prakash, the Adhyaksha Zilla Parishad South Andaman, Ms. Mariyam Bibi, Chairperson SSWB, Smt. Ratna Kannan, the Chairperson PBMC, Shri K. Ganeshan, the Director General of Police and a host of senior officers from Defence and Civil Administration.
Soon after arrival, the President visited the National Memorial Cellular Jail, placed a wreath and offered tributes at the Martyrs’ Column there. The itinerary of the President includes inauguration of the Andaman and Nicobar Tribal Research Institute (ANTRI) on January 12, 2014 & visiting the Andaman and Nicobar Command Headquarters same day where the Commander in Chief, ANC will brief the President, after which the President will visit Havelock.
On January 13th the President will go to Car Nicobar where he will visit the Tsunami Memorial, Big Lapathy and also the Mus Church. The President will also hold interaction with the members of the Tribal Council and witness a cultural programme at Car Nicobar.
On completion of the visit, the President will depart for Delhi in the afternoon of January 13th 2014.
