By IANS
Patna : The Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government plans to gift baskets of luscious 'shahi' (royal) litchis and special 'Zardalu' mangoes to VIPs in New Delhi, including the president and prime minister.
"Bihar's sweet litchis and mangoes are likely to enter the air-conditioned living rooms of India's VVIPs and diplomats this summer," a government official said here.
"The government has prepared a list of 400 VIPs in New Delhi, who will be gifted litchis and mangoes as a gesture from Bihar," he said.
The state's special gift list will include President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, senior diplomats of several embassies and bureaucrats in the capital.
"This gesture will be a special one," the official said.
The shahi litchis of Muzaffarpur district and the delicious Zardalu mangoes of Bhagalpur district would be packed separately for gifting, he said.
While 80 percent of India's litchis are produced in Muzaffarpur, the region's shahi litchis are known for their aroma and taste worldwide.
The official said the summer gifts would help promote Bihar's special fruits in the national and international market.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had presented shahi litchis to the president, vice-president and prime minister, apart from other ministers, last year too.