New Delhi, December 27: The ten-day Southern sojourn planned by President Pratibha Patil at Rashtrapati Nilayam in Secunderabad from December 28 to January 6 has been cancelled.
A communication to this effect was received by the State government from Rashtrapati Bhavan at New Delhi on Saturday evening.
Official sources said the government had subtly advised the President against visiting Andhra Pradesh as the already surcharged atmosphere over the demand for a separate Telangana State would give a handle for parties to use her visit for political purposes by submitting memoranda on contentious issues and staging demonstrations.
Rashtrapathi Bhavan’s communication came a little after Additional Director General of Police A. K. Khan told reporters that there was no change in the proposed visit of the President.
Ms. Pratibha Patil had revived the practice, which had been given up by most Presidents after Giani Zail Singh.
-Agencies