President Pratibha Patil to visit UK in October

H S Rao

London, Aug 10 (PTI) President Pratibha Patil will be on
a three-day visit to Britain beginning October 27, the first
state visit by any Indian Head of the State in nearly two
decades.

Acting Indian High Commissioner to the UK Asoke Mukerji
said Patil will visit Britain from October 27 to 29 at the
invitation of Queen Elizabeth. During her visit, the President
will stay at the Windsor Castle.

"After a long time, a state visit will take place in the
last week of October," Mukerji said, while speaking at a
function organised by the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan to celebrate
India's Independence Day.

Mukerji noted that this would be the third State Visit by
an Indian President to the UK. Late Presidents S Radhakrishnan
and R Venkataraman visited the UK in 1963 and 1990
respectively.

The Acting High Commissioner also noted that India has
become the second largest investor in the UK, next only to the
US.

"India has become a beacon of hope in the region," he
said and praised the Indian Community in the UK for their
contributions.

Describing the Indian community in UK as unique, he said
it has not only prospered but helped the UK-India relations to
take deep root.

"British Indians are not only a bridge, they are also
interpreters of the relations," Mukerji said.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh paid a State Visit to
India in 1961 as the guests of the then President Rajendra
Prasad.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh paid a State visit to
India in November 1983 as the Guests of the then President
Giani Zail Singh. That visit included the Commonwealth Heads
of Government Meeting.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh paid a state visit to
India in October 1997, as the guests of the then President K R
Narayanan.

Maneck Dalal, Chairman of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
said, "We are here to serve the cause of India's culture and
we have made concerted efforts to join the mainstream of
British culture, while maintaining our identity."

Referring to disturbing scenario of extremism and
fanaticism in parts of the society, Dalal said "We are a force
for good."

John Marr, recipient of Padma Shri for his contributions
to the UK-India relations, said "India has bounced back after
the tragedy of Mumbai (terror attacks in November last year).

"India is a growing country and the 21st century belongs
to India because of its democracy, leadership and value of
Parliamentary democracy that works." PTI