Beijing: There were some awkward moments
before the departure of President Pratibha Patil from Beijing
to the central Chinese city of Loyang on Saturday when a member of
her delegation, RJD MP Raghuvansh Prasad, did not turn up at
the airport here on time, making her wait for nearly 20
minutes.
Though the scheduled departure was slated for 9.00 am local
time, the President arrived at the airport at 8.50 am for the
last farewell formalities.
However, even after she boarded the plane, it could not
take off as Prasad had not arrived from his hotel.
Patil had to wait for nearly 20 minutes before her plane,
a chartered from China Eastern Airlines, could depart even as
there were nearly eight other flights waiting for the VVIP
plane to take off.
According to protocol, President is the last one to board
a flight.
Patil, who is in China on a six-day visit, is visiting
Loyang to inaugurate the famous White Horse Buddhist temple
there.
Among the members of her delegation are Minister of State
for Food Processing Subodh Kant Sahay and Foreign Secretary
Nirupama Rao.
Patil is the first Indian Head of State to visit China
in a decade.
PTI
