Modi tweets
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he was honoured and delighted to welcome French President Francois Hollande as the chief guest for the Republic Day celebrations. “A warm welcome to French President @fhollande. We are honoured & delighted to have him as the Chief Guest for Republic Day celebrations," Prime Minister Modi tweeted. "President @fhollande & I will meet in Chandigarh & Delhi. We will build on the ground covered during our previous interactions," he said in another tweets. later, he posted a series of tweets and pictures of him with Hollande while visiting Rock Garden and Capitol Complex in Chandigarh.
folk dancers welcome Hollande in Corbusier city
Folk artistes from Punjab performed gidda and Bhangra dances to welcome French President Francois Hollande on his arrival at the airport here. He was also greeted by folk artistes at the Government Museum and Art Gallery. External affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup in a tweet said the guest from France was accorded a traditional welcome. “Bhangra beats to extend a warm welcome for President @fhollande at the Capitol Complex,” he tweeted.
Hollande shakes hand with groundboy
While disembarking from his plane at the Chandigarh Airport, French President Francois Hollande went for a handshake that was not listed on the programme — with an airport groundboy. Even as the ground staff was giving the final touches to the exercise, the French President emerged from the plane and began stepping down the stairs. Hollande shook hands with the groundboy, who was standing midway on the platform. Hollande was thereafter received by Haryana and Punjab Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar and Chandigarh lok Sabha member Kirron Kher.
Punjab CM not present
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal could not meet Modi and Hollande, as he was advised rest by doctors and kept under observation at the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) here. Cabinet Minister Adaish Pratap Singh Kairon went to the airport to receive Hollande and Modi. It was not clear why Deputy Chief minister Sukhbir Badal did not go to the airport to receive the dignitaries, All engagements of the chief minister, who was admitted to PGIMER on Friday following chest congestion and fever, were cancelled.
Traffic snarls on roads
Traffic snarls were witnessed on the roads leading to the route through which the cavalcade of French President moved in the city on Sunday afternoon. However, being Sunday the rush of vehicles on the roads was less which saved commuters from inconvenience. Chandigarh was put under maximum security cover ahead of the arrival of the French President and Prime Minister Modi.