For daily EARLY TIMES (www.earlytimes.in) of October 30, 2009

Sonia’s Shikara ride on Dal lake, shopping on Boulevard

AHMED ALI FAYYAZ

SRINAGAR, Oct 29: Breaking an ice in the autumn, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi not only enjoyed a memorable shikara ride on the Dal Lake but also took a stroll with minimum possible security cover amid flowing civilian traffic on the fashionable Boulevard and did some shopping of the Kashmir handicrafts before returning to New Delhi at the end of her two-day visit to the Valley.

On 25th anniversary of her mother-in-law Indira Gandhi’s last visit to Kashmir, Sonia Gandhi today gave anxious moments to her SPG security cover as she deserted Raj Bhawan in the morning and went straight to a houseboat anchoring for her in Dal Lake, close to SKICC. After staying at the houseboat for about 90 minutes, Sonia took a Shikara ride from SKICC through Kabootarkhwana to Nehru Park where she interacted with a number of foreign and domestic tourists.

Thereafter, the country’s best protected person crossed over to Boulevard in the company of a few of her armed guards. Sources told Early Times that SPG and the state security agencies wanted to seal off the area which had otherwise remained out-of-bounds for all civilians yesterday but Sonia asked them to ensure that nobody was disturbed because of her movement.

As hundreds of private and commercial vehicles kept flowing on the Boulevard, Sonia strolled down to Landmark Handicrafts in the SICOP complex and did some shopping of handicrafts at two different shops. Those who accompanied her said that the shopkeepers sold her embroidered bags but did not accept the cost but she did not relent and left only after the payment was made in full.

Thereafter, Sonia boarded a car and began driving towards Royal Spring Golf Course for her last sight-seeing. However, she got stranded in a traffic jam near Zabarvan Park. Men from Traffic Police and Police Division Nehru Park rushed and cleared the way for Sonia. She later enjoyed some moments at the breathtaking lush green courses of Royal Spring before boarding a helicopter which was waiting for the VVIP at Nehru Helipad.

She joined Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the end of his press conference at Technical Airport and both flew back to New Delhi together in a special plane.

Sources said that Sonia had, in fact, expressed her desire to stay for the last night at a houseboat which was quickly decorated and anchored close to SKICC late last evening. On the last moment, her programme changed and she too stayed at Raj Bhawan. Some of the officials said it was because of security reasons but others insisted that there was not proper heating arrangement inside the houseboat.

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