Lucknow, Nov 27: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today exchanged Eid greetings with selected islamic scholars, theologians and leaders of the Shia and Sunni sects in his Lok Sabha constituency. Leader of Opposition in Uttar Pradesh Assembly Lalji Tandon, who is also the in-charge of the Prime Minister's constituency, introduced invitees in groups to Vajpayee who wished them 'Eid-mubarak' at an impressive 'Eid-milan' (Eid gathering) programme on the sprawling lawns of the National Botanical Research Institute here.

The Prime Minister arrived at the venue well past his scheduled programme at 5.30 pm and was immediately flanked by scores of Muslim clerics and prominent citizens.

Accompanied by UP Governor Vishnu Kant Shastri, Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and senior BJP leaders Vinay Katiyar and Kalraj Mishra, the Prime Minister also went round the venue, where a massive shamiana was erected, to meet the waiting invitees.
A visibly cheerful Prime Minister posed for photographs.

When the waiting reporters urged Vajpayee to speak a few words to the press as he was visiting Lucknow after a gap of over six months, the Prime Minister smiled, nodded his head and answered a few questions posed to him.

Mega star Amitabh Bachhan, Anil Ambani of the Reliance Group, Union Ministers Arun Shourie and Arun Jaitely, Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh and Sahara Group chairman Subrat Roy were among those present on the occasion.
Bureau Report