Change in meeting venue
The protests against the gang rape of a 23-year-old woman in Delhi on Monday prompted the government to change the venue of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Putin, who was on a day-long visit to New Delhi, was scheduled to meet Singh at Hyderabad House near India Gate at 11-30 am. But in view of the protests in and around Raisina Hill on Saturday and Sunday, Delhi Police advised the Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of External Affairs to change the venue, which was not considered secure for the meeting of the two leaders.
The prime minister then had a meeting with the Russian president at his official residence at 7 Race Course Road here at 11.00 am. The bilateral agreements were also signed at the Prime Minister’s residence, although the signing ceremony was earlier scheduled to be held after the meeting at Hyderabad House.
Putin later called on President Pranab Mukherjee, Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj.
