Sunday, August 19, 2001		VIP Toon Tales

Ali Akbar Rafsanjani
by Ranga

THERE is always a slip between the cup and lip. This was about to happen as I made an attempt to meet President Rafsanjani of Iran at Rajghat. The visiting dignitary was there to lay a wreath on the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi. I was prevented by the Iranian security men to go anywhere near their President. I had Rafsanjani’s sketch ready for getting his signature on it and was sure he would not refuse. The only obstacle were the Iranian security men, who moved along with the President wherever he went. They were unhappy and angry that I was there with the ‘sketch’ of their President. It was at this stage that the protocol officials at Rajghat came to my rescue. They made it possible for me to go near him and hand over the sketch. He had a quick look at it and affixed his signature on it, much to the annoyance of the Iranian guards.