Prez Meets Old Friend From Odisha At Utkal University After 12 Years

Anything for a friend! For once, President Ram Nath Kovind did away with the protocol to meet his friend and a former Rajya Sabha member from Odisha, Birabhadra Singh, during the valedictory ceremony of the platinum jubilee celebration of Utkal University here on Sunday.

The friends and former colleagues met after a gap of 12 years.

While the President was the chief guest at the event, Singh was attending it as an alumnus. He did his Masters in Political Science from the varsity in 1965-67.

A contemporary of Kovind in Rajya Sabha between 2000 and 2006, the 74-year-old had earlier expressed his desire to meet the President and offer him a rose. His request, however, was turned down due to security protocol.

According to sources, Kovind recognised Singh, with whom he had developed a friendship back in 2000, in the audience from his white turban and asked Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to call him to the dais after the programme ended.

They exchanged pleasantries and later the President was seen taking photographs with Singh. He even invited him to Rashtrapati Bhavan.

“We were members of SC/ST Parliamentary Standing Committee and worked closely at least for two years. After my Rajya Sabha tenure, we lost touch. I am amazed that he could still remember me, although we had not met for almost 12 years,” said Singh, a close associate of legendary politician Biju Patnaik.

A three time MLA from Mayurbhanj district, he had his political career in Jana Congress, Janata Party and Janata Dal.