President hosts Hollande, others ‘At Home’ reception

After the rendition of the national anthem and customary exchange of greetings with VVIPs, including the French President, Mukherjee walked a designated pathway and exchanged pleasantries with other invitees on the sprawling Mughal Gardens.

Keeping in mind the security threat, designated pathways were created to allow the President and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to meet the public. On earlier occasions, the President used to keep his security at arm’s length and freely mingled with the people.

With security restrictions in place, the French President was seated in the VVIP enclosure, which was expanded this time to include Cabinet ministers and senior BJP leaders including its president Amit Shah and party veteran L K Advani.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, his wife Gursharan Kaur, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and several Cabinet ministers were among those present in the VVIP enclosure. Jaitley was seen talking with the Congress President Sonia Gandhi during the tea session in the VVIP enclosure. A seat was especially marked for 96-year-old Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh in the enclosure.

Earlier on Monday, just hours after delivering his R-Day speech, the President raised the issue of intolerance at the state banquet held in honour of visiting French President.

Mukherjee said that India and France must fight resolutely for freedom from forces of intolerance, extremism and terrorism. The President said recent terror incidents in India and France are an attack on the fundamental values of liberty, freedom and universal brotherhood.

He said: “…So must our two countries fight resolutely now for freedom from the forces of intolerance, extremism and terrorism. The dastardly terror attacks in Paris and Pathankot have underlined the urgency for countries like ours to combat this existential threat to humanity and human civilisation.” Mukherjee said no cause can justify terrorist acts and it is imperative that the world act in unison against terrorism, without political considerations.