COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ARCHIVES

Gujral woos Christians

Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral reiterated his commitment to preserve the well-being of India's minorities during his visit to the St Mary's church in Jalandhar cantonment on Wednesday night.

Addressing a gathering in the church premise, he said minorities are flourishing because India is secular.

The church authorities had organised a special prayer meeting to bless Gujral. The prime minister lighted a candle at the altar and later stood in silence with his hands clasped in front when the priest read prayer.

Security officials had to remove railings when Gujral expressed his wish to meet the people who had been waiting in the night chill for him.

A beaming Gujral mingled freely with the people even as Special Protection Group personnel tried unsuccessfully to keep the crowd at bay. The locals hailed the PM with slogans of 'I K Gujral zindabad.'

Earlier, the prime minister had a conversation with a group of nuns who looked enthralled at the presence of the nation's highest executive.

While trying to put on his shoes Gujral joked that his feet could find its way into them when someone urged the crowd to stand back and not block the light.

The prime minister also visited the B D Arya girls college where the management honoured him with the title 'Great son of Punjab'.

Thereafter, Gujral visited the Devi Talab mandir. He had his food in the langar (community kitchen) there.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report