President praises development of Gujarat

President Pratibha Patil, on completion of her five-day visit of Gujarat, flew back to Delhi from the local airport on Sunday afternoon. She was given a warm farewell by state finance minister Vajubhai Vala, other leaders and a host of officials.

Patil, after visiting the historical fort of Diu on Sunday, came to Rajkot airport at around 1.45 pm and left for Delhi at 2 pm. On the airport, she is reported to have praised the development of Gujarat. She further said she enjoyed her visit to Gir the most.

Bhagyesh Jha, representative of the state government and information commissioner, offered the President a memento. Apart from the state finance minister Vala, agriculture minister Dilip Sanghani, BJP president Purshottam Rupala, Vijay Rupani, district collector HS Patel, municipal commissioner Dinesh Brahmbhatt and police commissioner Gita Johri were among those present to bid farewell to the President.

Manoharsinh Jadeja, a senior Congress leader of the past, was given special permission by the President's house to be present at the airport. He presented a bouquet to the President.

State chief minister Narendra Modi could not be present at the Rajkot airport due to some unavoidable reasons, sources said.