SHIMLA: President Ram Nath Kovind arrived in Shimla on a four-day visit on Thurday. He will address a special session of the state assembly on Friday to commemorate 50 years of Himachal Pradesh’s statehood. He will attend the valedictory ceremony of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service at the National Academy of Audit and Accounts, Shimla, as the chief guest on Saturday.
Kovind, who is staying at a private hotel as some employees of The Retreat, the President’s residence at Chharabra on the outskirts of Shimla, have tested positive for Covid-19, is the third President after A P J Abdul Kalam and Pranab Mukherjee to address the state assembly’s special session. Kalam had addressed the special assembly session on December 23, 2004, and Mukherjee on May 24, 2013.
As part of his security arrangements, vehicular traffic has been restricted from Kennedy Chowk to Boileuganj via Chaura Maidan from September 16 to 19. Only those drivers who show their residence proof will be allowed on this route.
Kovind was received party at Annadale helipad by governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, chief minister Jai Ram Thakur, assembly speaker Vipin Singh Parmar, parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Bhardwaj, Shimla mayor Satya Kaundal, Army commander Lt Gen (Artrac) Raj Shukla, chief secretary Ram Subhag Singh and DGP Sanjay Kundu among others.
