President Pranab Mukherjee was received among others by Governor Krishan Kant Paul, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and additional chief secretary Omprakash at Dehradun airport after he arrived by a special Indian Air Force plane on Monday morning.
He later flew to GTC Helipad on a chopper from where he reached Ashiana by road to inaugurate the President’s secretariat. He was welcomed at Ashiana by a host of dignitaries, including bureaucrats, vice- chancellors of several universities and top brass of Army, Air force and Navy aside from some media persons. When the presidential cavalcade crossed GTC on way to Ashiana the area was converted into zero zone for a few minutes. However, the stretch saw traffic congestion even after the presidential convoy passed.
Amidst rain, the protocol officer received the President at Ashiana. After inaugurating the annexe, as he reached the main part of the building he was given a guard of honour by the presidential bodyguards attired in the white. After the ceremonial guard of honour was over the Governor and the Chief Minister led him inside. Soon after, he emerged to greet the dignitaries who were waiting for him. A Congress delegation comprising the state PCC president Preetam Singh and former Chief Minister Harish Rawat also met him. The State protocol minister Dhan Singh Rawat introduced the President with the guests who gathered at the presidential retreat to greet him, supposing this to be the last state visit of Mukherjee as the President. Though he was supposed to leave Ashiana at 3 pm his departure was advanced by 30 minutes thanks to the inclement weather in the city. As per the initial plan, he was to stay for a day in Dehradun. But the plan had been changed in view of the President hosting a dinner for the Governors and the lieutenant governors of the Union Territories at Rashtrapati Bhavan on July 11. The Governor Krishan Kant Paul accompanied the President back to Delhi on the same plane.
lunch comprising rice, pulse, matar paneer, yellow pumpkin, potato with gravy, raita, chicken and roti of different varieties were served to the guests. later, kheer and gulab jamun were served. The students of Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) Dehradun served the guests during the lunch.
Notably, the President Mukherjee had inaugurated the renovated Ashiana, converted into the presidential retreat, in 2016. It was at the time when some land sharks had their greedy eyes fixed on it.
The administration this time allowed the guests to enter the complex with their vehicles to be issued with coupons with serial numbers of their entry unlike the last time when they had been asked to park their vehicles inside NIVH, thus making them walk more than one kilometre after having their vehicles parked at the designated place.
This time, the administration arranged waterproof tents too to protect the guests from being drenched. Three food courts, including one in the verandah, were put into place.
The guests said that they had relished their lunch a great deal amidst the lush green ambiance with the army band softly playing in the background.
With rain continuing uninterruptedly, the organisers chose to lay the red carpet after the President arrived. However, once the carpet was laid it started raining that continued to lash the place for a few hours. Many of those present said that the rain formed the perfect backdrop for the welcome of the President visiting his retreat perhaps for the last time during his tenure. The rain stopped soon after the President arrived to start again after the lunch was over. He boarded his car from inside the water- proof tent, but not before greeting all with folded hands.
Among the guests present at Ashiana included cabinet minister Subodh Uniyal, two ministers of state Dr Dhan Singh Rawat and Rekha Arya, former CMs- Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal NIshank and Harish Rawat, Tehri MP Mala Rajya lakshmi Shah, VCs of several state-based universities and ADGPs -Anil Raturi, RS Meena and Ashok Kumar aside from the top brass of Army, Navy and Air Force currently stationed in Dehradun.