See you soon again, Sarkozy to Taj

The French leader, who came to India on Friday on a two-day visit, took time off his tightly-packed schedule to visit the Taj amid heightened media interest, particularly in view of the guessing game over whether Bruni would accompany him.

‘Unforgettable’, wrote the 52-year-old in the visitor’s book in French about the Mughal monument built by Shahjahan for his beloved wife Noor Jahan.

Sarkozy, the chief guest at this year’s Republic Day celebrations, came soon after witnessing the parade in Delhi.

Though most of the world leaders visiting India make it a point to travel to Taj Mahal, the media interest was more in the case of Sarkozy’s tour because of expectation that he would be accompanied by his 40-year-old lady love.

Rumours were afloat about Bruni till Sarkozy reached the Taj with some suggesting she had arrived in Delhi on Friday night to accompany the Franch President while others said she had already reached Agra.

Disappointment was writ large on the faces of scores of Indian and foreign mediapersons when Bruni was not found accompanying the French President.

While his head-turner girlfriend was absent on the Taj rendezvous, Sarkozy was accompanied by a large French delegation as he went sight-seeing.

He spent around an hour inside the Taj and got himself photographed on the ‘lovers’ bench’, but not alone but accompanied by members of his delegation.

Prior to Sarkozy’s visit, stories were written about whether he would, like Princess Diana in 1992, visit the monument of love alone and sit by himself on the ‘lovers’ Bench’, where couples pose for photographs.

The entire area around the Taj Mahal was sanitised and shops closed. The monument itself was closed for public from 12 pm to 3 pm for the visit.

Guide Kamlesh Dwivedi, who showed Sarkozy around, said he listened with rapt attention various details that he provided him with on the famed monument, but did not ask many questions.

“He spent a lot of time gazing at the monument,” Dwivedi said.

The French President looked ‘glum’, Dwivedi claimed, suggesting that absence of Bruni had affected Sarkozy’s mood.

The French side had initially indicated to India that Bruni might accompany Sarkozy on his two-day visit, prompting questions over protocol issues.

As the guessing game continued, Bruni herself sought to put an end to the speculation by telling a French daily a few days ago that she would not be travelling to India with Sarkozy as they were not yet married.

But the statement failed to dampen the speculation about her coming as the governments of both India and France maintained suspense by not confirming or denying.

However, Sarkozy’s insistence on visiting the Taj fuelled speculation that although not as part of the delegation, she might make a special appearance for the visit to the Mughal monument.