Mexico, April 18
President Pratibha Patil gave protocol jitters as she inadvertently passed the Tricolour at the ceremonial reception without bowing, but quickly went back after her attention was drawn by the Mexican Guard Commander.
Patil, who was inspecting a guard of honour by the Mexican Presidential Guards, walked past the Mexican flag without realising that her Mexican counterpart Felipe Calderon had stopped to pay respect to his country’s flag.
The President then moved ahead without stopping before the Indian flag. “Madam President...,” the Guard Commander called out and Patil quickly retraced her steps and honoured the Tricolour.
The Mexican leg of the President’s 13-day three-nation visit started on a disappointing note as her address to the joint session of Parliament had to be cancelled at the last minute in view of the blockade of the House by Left-leaning legislators protesting the presentation of the Energy Reforms Bill by the Mexican President.
— PTI
