The President of India, Pratibha Patil, who will be guest of honour at the Coronation of His Majesty the King, has arrived in the Kingdom. Upon arrival at the Taj Tashi in the capital, President Pratibha Patil was received by His Majesty the King.

Shortly afterwards, His Majesty the King granted an audience to the President at the Taj Tashi. The Home and Cultural Affairs Minister Lyonpo Minjur Dorji, the External Affairs Minister of India, Pranab Mukherjee and the Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon were also present at the audience.

Following the audience, the Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley also met with President Pratibha Patil.

Upon arrival at the Paro airport earlier yesterday, President Pratibha Patil was received by His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, their Royal Highnesses Ashi Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck and Ashi Sonam Dechan Wangchuck and the Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley.

President Pratibha Patil was also presented a guard of honour.

The Chief of Protocol Kinzang C. Namgyel then presented the cabinet ministers, senior government officials and heads of diplomatic missions and UN system to President Pratibha Patil.

Among the officials were the Chief Justice Lyonpo Sonam Tobgay, the National Assembly Speaker Jigme Tshultim, the Chairperson of the National Council Namgay Penjore, the Chief Election Commissioner Dasho Kunzang Wangdi, the chairperson of the Anti-Corruption Commission, the auditor general Ugyen Chewang and armed force representatives.

Also present were the Bhutanese Ambassador to India Lyonpo Dago Tshering, the Indian Ambassador to Bhutan, Sudhir Vyas, the Bhutanese Ambassador to Bangladesh, Tshering Dorji, the Bangladesh Ambassador to Bhutan AKM Atiqur Rehman and the UN Resident Representative Nicholas Rossellini.

Along the way from Paro to Thimphu, President Pratibha Patil was greeted by students waving flags.

Source: BBS