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Heavy security for first ever visit to Punjab by Canadian PM
Chandigarh, Oct 25: Tight security arrangements have been made for the day-long visit of Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien today to Chandigarh and Amritsar, the first ever by a Canadian leader to the border state.
Chandigarh, Oct 25: Tight security arrangements have been made for the day-long visit of Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien today to Chandigarh and Amritsar, the first
ever by a Canadian leader to the border state.
Chretien will visit the Golden Temple at Amritsar and inaugurate the Consulate General of Canada here besides attending a reception.
The Consulate will commence functioning from early next year and help the Punjabis visiting Canada.
Police sources said that security personnel have been put on maximum alert due to Diwali and Chretien's visit.
The Golden Temple at Amritsar would be sealed for two hours and no devotees would be allowed inside during the visit of the visiting dignitary. The large number of devotees visiting the shrine, especially due to Diwali, would have to wait for Chretien's departure before being allowed entry for paying obeiscance or taking a dip in the tank, SGPC secretary Manjit Singh Calcutta told reporters in Amritsar.
Additional security personnel have also been deployed around Mountview Hotel here, the venue of reception today afternoon and around the Consulate General. The security arrangements have been chalked out in consultation with security offcials from Canada, who had arrived in advance, sources said.
Chretien would be accompanied among others by Canadian Minister of Natural Resources Herb Dhaliwal, an NRI.
Bureau Report
Chretien will visit the Golden Temple at Amritsar and inaugurate the Consulate General of Canada here besides attending a reception.
The Consulate will commence functioning from early next year and help the Punjabis visiting Canada.
Police sources said that security personnel have been put on maximum alert due to Diwali and Chretien's visit.
The Golden Temple at Amritsar would be sealed for two hours and no devotees would be allowed inside during the visit of the visiting dignitary. The large number of devotees visiting the shrine, especially due to Diwali, would have to wait for Chretien's departure before being allowed entry for paying obeiscance or taking a dip in the tank, SGPC secretary Manjit Singh Calcutta told reporters in Amritsar.
Additional security personnel have also been deployed around Mountview Hotel here, the venue of reception today afternoon and around the Consulate General. The security arrangements have been chalked out in consultation with security offcials from Canada, who had arrived in advance, sources said.
Chretien would be accompanied among others by Canadian Minister of Natural Resources Herb Dhaliwal, an NRI.
Bureau Report