Pranab cancels tours to stay fit for Obama visit, Republic Day events

The President was to address the International Law Conference and the Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial Lecture. But, the engagements have been cancelled despite the fact that both events are being held in the national capital.

However, Mukherjee has regularly given out messages for various functions and is due to address vice-chancellors and governors via video conferencing.

Mukherjee, however, may make an exception for Army Day celebrations on January 15.

Rashtrapati Bhavan officials said the President will deliver his customary address on the eve of Republic Day. But, it is the slew of events over the next two days that will put Mukherjee’s resilience to test.

Mukherjee will have a number of engagements during Obama’s visit, with January 25 and 26 being particularly hectic. On January 25, there will be an official banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the honour of the Obama which will be hosted by Mukherjee after the ceremonial reception of the US President. The next morning, he and Obama would travel together to Rajpath.

The President will be required to be on his feet for more than two hours as he takes the parade salute as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. That will need clearance from his doctors and given the inclement Delhi weather on January mornings, it is unlikely to be an easy medical call. Later in the afternoon, he will need to attend the Republic Day ‘At Home’.

Officials of Rashtrapati Bhavan, however, are confident that the President will be up to the challenge.
“He will take the salute at the Republic Day parade. He will do everything that is customary and is required of him to do,” said Venu Rajamony, press secretary to the President.