No special welcome for Obama at Rajghat
US President Barack Obama has always been a great admirer of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi. However, when he comes to Delhi and in all likelihood pays a visit to his samadhi at Rajghat, it would be a simple function that would await him there. Those at the helm of the samadhi’s day-to-day affairs say that it would be difficult to do anything special for anybody as Mahatma Gandhi treated all as equal.
Talking to this newspaper, Rajnish Kumar, secretary of Rajghat Samadhi Committee, said: “Koi to jagah ho jahan koi chhota bada nahin ho (there should be at least some place where no one is big or small).”
He added that Mr Obama was always welcome but doing anything special for him would not be in line with the principles of the Mahatma.
“We are looking forward to Mr Obama’s visit as we have read about him and hear him talk about his great respect for the Mahatma. It would be great to see the US President’s remarks in the visitors’ book and also what all he has to say when he comes here,” said Mr Kumar, reiterating and insisting further that on the samadhi, every body was welcome.
Mr Kumar added that the sanctity of the place also had to be respected.
The protocol for any visiting state dignitary is always in place and it includes laying of the green carpet and putting up some chairs during the visit. The visiting state dignitaries enter Rajghat through the VIP gate and are given a wreath to lay on the samadhi.
Further, a bust of the Mahatma is given to the visiting state dignitaries as a memento along with a khadi scroll of seven social sins, which the Mahatma quoted in Young India in 1925.
Mr Obama will visit Delhi around the end of the first week of November. However, the itinerary and engagements of the US President have not yet been disclosed in the public domain for security reasons.
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