Hyderabad, December 25: Labour minister D Nagender tried to show his ‘power’ to a subinspector of police during the arrival of President Pratibha Patil at the Begumpet Airport in the city today. Nagender reportedly warned the SI with ‘dire consequences’, including transfer to an insignificant post.
The incident occurred when AP State Legislative Council chairman A Chakrapani was obstructed by a police officer from approaching the President on her arrival in the city.
Chakrapani, who was sitting in the reception area, tried to walk up to the runway to receive the President on her arrival along with Governor ESL Narasimhan and chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy.
But an SI stopped Chakrapani stating that his name was not in the protocol list of the dignitaries for receiving the President and that he could not move beyond the reception area. Despite displaying his invitation card, Chakrapani was not allowed to move further. Nagender, who had been watching the developments from a distance, rushed towards the SI and warned him to ‘behave’ or ‘face the music’. He is also learnt to have threatened to get the police officer transferred to an insignificant post.
Finally, the police officer gave up and allowed Chakrapani who, later, even handed over a bouquet to President Pratibha Patil along with the two other senior leaders – former chief ministers N Janardhan Reddy and K Rosaiah.
Speaking to reporters later, Nagender said the government had already informed the protocol department to ensure that the names of the assembly speaker, the council chairman, the local MP and the MLA were on the list of dignitaries for receiving the President. He would take up the matter with the chief minister, he said.
Anxious moments as President arrives late
Meanwhile, President Pratibha Patil arrived in Hyderabad at 1.40 pm, nearly one-and-half hours behind the schedule giving some anxious moments to the dignitaries who came to receive her.
During her week-long sojourn, the President will stay at the Rashtrapathi Nilayam in Bollarum and will participate in various official and private functions before leaving for Goa on December 31.
She will inaugurate the herbal gardens at the Rashtrapathi Nilayam tomorrow and participate in the Kuchipudi Dance Festival being organised at HICC in Madhapur on December 26.
She will also visit Pondicherry for a day.
–Agencies