French President Francois Hollande arrives on 3-day India visit

CHANDIGARH: French President Francois Hollande arrived here this afternoon commencing his three-day visit to India from the city designed by a French architect, and he will be later joined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Hollande was welcomed by Governor of Punjab and Haryana Kaptan Singh Solanki and Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, among others.

Shortly before the arrival of the French leader, Modi tweeted, "A warm welcome to French President @fhollande. We are honoured & delighted to have him as the Chief Guest for Republic Day celebrations."

The Prime Minister in a second tweet said, "President @fhollande & I will meet in Chandigarh & Delhi. We will build on the ground covered during our previous interactions."

Others present at the airport included BJP MP from Chandigarh Kirron Kher, Advisor to Administrator Vijay Dev and Home Secretary Anurag Aggarwal.

Bhangra and Gidha troupes presented a traditional welcome to Hollande.

Modi is to arrive here after some time and will be welcoming Hollande at Rock Garden, a famous tourist attraction.

Both will visit popular tourist spots the city -- Capitol Complex and Government Museum and Art Gallery, besides Rock Garden.

A thick security blanket has been thrown in and around the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana that is hosting a President from a foreign country for the first time.

After going to the tourist spots, Modi and Hollande will attend the ' India-France Business Summit' at a hotel here, before flying to New Delhi separately in the evening, official sources said here.

From the airport, Hollande was driven to a private hotel where he was again given a traditional welcome by Haryana folk dancers and singers.

After spending some time at the hotel, he will proceed to Rock Garden built by late artist Nek Chand who made articles from waste and unused material.

Hollande will be the fifth French leader to be a Chief Guest at the Republic Day celebrations in Delhi on January 26 -- the maximum number from any country. French leaders had earlier attended the Republic Day celebrations in the national capital in 1976, 1980, 1998 and 2008.

The Capitol Complex has been described as the most spectacular work of French architect Le Corbusier, who designed Chandigarh. The Complex comprises Legislative Assembly, Punjab and Haryana High Court and Secretariat.