Pranab Mukherjee felicitated by West Bengal govt

From a guard of honour at the airport to a grand public reception at the Netaji Indoor Stadium, the state government went all out to make Mukherjee's first visit as president to Kolkata a memorable one.

"We are proud that a Bengali has become the President. My relationship with him goes back a long time and is long-standing. May I call you Pranabda?" she said at the start of her speech at the civic reception.

Praising Mukherjee, the chief minister said he had worked for long in West Bengal and had tackled many crises in the country's politics and economy.

She said that with Mukherjee becoming president democracy would be enriched "and we will get inspiration from him".

Recalling her days in Congress, Banerjee, a former state Youth Congress chief said "I cannot imagine that he is the President now. We used to go to him often. Quarrel with him and also eat ghugni with him. It has been a homecoming for him."

Governor M K Narayanan and several ministers and a host of dignitaries, including members of the diplomatic corps and those from the Bengali cultural and film world were present.

Banerjee presented Mukherjee a memento made of crystal.

Mementos were also presented by a few chambers of commerce and football clubs like Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting.

Chau dance from Purulia and also from Darjeeling were presented.