PM Modi’s Kerala visit: no official program at Kochi, Guv not to receive PM at airport
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Kochi: Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan will not be present at Kochi airport to receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, as there are no official programs lined up for the Prime Minister here.
Governor Khan, who was in the city, told the media that he would have stayed back had there been official programs.
"Since there are no official programs in Kochi, I am returning," he said.
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to arrive in the city at noon on board an Indian Air Force aircraft at the naval airport at Willingdon Island. He will take part in a mega road show along the 1.8 km stretch from the Thevara Junction to the Sacred Heart College ground. The rally is scheduled to begin by 5:30 pm.
The police have imposed traffic restrictions in Kochi city for the next two days in connection with the PM's visit.
At 6 p.m., he is expected to address a meeting of youths drawn from several parts of the state. On the occasion will be present what the BJP terms a "prized catch" - Anil Antony, son of country's longest serving Defence Minister A.K. Antony.
Anil Antony will be showcased for the first time after he joined the BJP early this month.
After the meeting, at 7.45 p.m., the PM will be meeting supreme heads of various Churches and then retire for the day at a plush private hotel in Kochi.
The PM will be leaving Kochi tomorrow at 9:25 am for Thiruvananthapuram. He is set to arrive at the Thiruvananathapuram airport at 10:15 am on Tuesday where Governor Khan will receive him as he is coming to flag off the first Vande Bharat train for the state at the Central railway station.
He will then be leaving for the Thriuvanathapuram Central Stadium to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of development projects worth Rs 3,200 crore, which are initiated by the Central Government in Kerala.
The official launch of the Kochi Water Metro service and the Digital University too will be carried out on the occasion. The Governor would be joining the PM at the Central stadium. At 12.40 p.m, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to fly to Surat, his home state.
With inputs from IANS
