Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Aug 23: Pranab Mukherjee, President of India, who is arriving here on a two-day visit for attending the Jammu University Convocation on September 1, is also likely to discuss the prevailing situation on Indo-Pak border with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah as well as Governor N N Vohra.
During his maiden visit to Jammu since becoming the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee is also scheduled to visit Mata Vaishno Devi for paying obeisance at the holy cave shrine in Trikuta Hills near Katra on September 2 before his departure, official sources informed the Excelsior.
Even as the scheduled visit is specifically for the Jammu University Convocation, the proposed one-to-one meeting of the President with the Chief Minister and Governor assumes more significance in the backdrop of prevailing situation on the Indo-Pak border where the enemy troops are resorting to unprovoked heavy firing resulting into loss of life and property on this side, sources added.
Pertinent to mention here that the President has already given his consent for participation as chief guest in the Jammu University’s 13th Convocation, which is going to be held on September 1, this year after a gap of seven years.
According to the sources, the President will reach Jammu Airport on September 1 by a special plane of Indian Air Force. After landing here around 3.45 pm, he will straightway move to Jammu University for his participation in the Convocation, which is scheduled to be held at General Zorawar Singh Auditorium on the campus from 4 pm to 5.30 pm.
During the Convocation, the President will award Medals and Certificates of Merit in all the streams for the session 2012-13 in the presence of Governor N N Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who are the Jammu University’s Chancellor and Pro- Chancellor, respectively.
After distributing the Awards and Certificates of Merit in the Convocation, Pranab Mukherjee will reach Raj Bhawan in the Winter Capital of the State where the Governor N N Vohra is scheduled to host At Home in the President’s honour from 6.45 pm to 7.30 pm, sources informed.
During his stay at Raj Bhawan, sources said that the President is likely to hold one-to-one meeting with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Governor N N Vohra, who will brief the former on security scenario in the State as well as prevailing situation on border with Pakistan.
Before his departure to New Delhi on the next day, the President is also scheduled to pay obeisance at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine on September 2. Mr Mukherjee will leave the Governor House at 10.30 a.m and land at newly developed helipad Pancchi from where he will proceed to the Bhawan by a Battery Car, sources said.
A rehearsal of the high-profile visit was done today by the Indian Air Force, which successfully landed its Chetak Helicopter at Pancchi Helipad around 11.15 a.m, sources informed. This helipad is nearer to the Bhawan than Saanji Chhat and situated hardly one kilometer from the Cave Shrine.
The President will remain at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan upto 2.30 pm for paying obeisance to the deity in holy cave shrine and thereafter having lunch also, sources explained.
The two-day scheduled visit of the President will conclude with his flying back to New Delhi in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, the security agencies have also fully geared for scheduled visit of the President and special surveillance is being maintained at the proposed venues in the itinerary. General Zorawar Singh Auditorium in JU has been taken over by the security agencies and fully sealed for restricted entry. Only the staff engaged for Convocation preparation, is being allowed for entry after through frisking and proper identification by the security personnel deployed there, sources explained.
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