Search the Internet          Tips

Clinton, Pawar discuss
quake relief efforts

Indians continue to be smitten by the charisma of former United States President Bill Clinton minus the "presidential tag".

During his visit to the country, which he says he will always keep coming back to, his immense popularity manifests itself in the form of crowds which await him wherever he goes.

Be it at Taj Hotel, where he stayed and where people waited for over four hours, or other venues which he visited, beeline crowds are seen across the road just to have a glimpse of the leader or perhaps shake hands with him.

After his arrival at Taj Hotel on Thursday night, he was given a rousing welcome amid thunderous applause.

Clinton obliged many by shaking hands before security men escorted him to the heritage wing of the hotel.

On Friday morning too, a huge crowd stood just outside the hotel, near the Gateway of India, to see Clinton and his entourage. They waved and once again Clinton obliged them. The scene outside former Maharashtra chief minister Sharad Pawar's Silver Oak Estate residence was no different where people thronged across the two sides of the roads to see him.

Clinton met Pawar, who is National Disaster Management Committee vice-chairman on Friday.

The meeting lasted over an hour.

Clinton, who is here as part of a delegation of the American India Foundation, working towards raising funds for the quake-affected people of Gujarat, was given a presentation on the disaster plan by Pawar, who is also president of the Nationalist Congress Party.

Pawar briefed him on measures being taken by the government and non-government organisations to rehabilitate people who were severely affected by the Black Friday January 26 earthquake, one of the worst ever natural disasters in the country since independence.

Pawar, who is a former defence minister and former leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, interacted with members of the foundation, which was formed after the earthquake.

Among others present at the breakfast meeting were Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, his deputy Chhagan Bhujbal, their cabinet colleagues, senior officials, Bharatiya Janata Party national vice president and former Maharashtra deputy chief minister Gopinath Munde.

Pawar was recently made vice chairman of the National Disaster Management Committee taking into consideration his vast expertise and management capabilities.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is chairman of the committee.

During the meeting, Clinton said, ''The planet is going through global climatic changes and hence the frequency of natural calamities like floods and earthquakes are on the rise.'' He also talked about the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is ever-prepared to handle such crises.

Clinton was all support for the rehabilitation efforts in Gujarat through the foundation.

After the meeting with Pawar, Clinton met United States Consulate staff.

PTI

The Complete Coverage | List of earthquake sites

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report