By NNN-PTI,
Mexico : President Pratibha Patil gave protocol jitters as she inadvertently passed the tricolour at the ceremonial reception without bowing but quickly went back after her attention was drawn by the Mexican Guard Commander.
Patil, who was inspecting a guard of honour by the Mexican Presidential Guards, walked past the Mexican flag without realising that her Mexican counterpart Felipe Calderon had stopped to pay respect to his country’s flag.
The President then moved ahead without stopping before the Indian flag. “Madam President…,” the Guard Commander called out and Patil quickly retraced her steps and honoured the tricolour.
The Mexican leg of the President’s 13-day three-nation visit started on a disappointing note as her address to the joint session of Parliament had to be cancelled at the last minute in view of the blockade of the House by Left-leaning legislators protesting presentation of the Energy Reforms Bill by the Mexican President.
During the day, Patil addressed the Indian community and spoke about the “privileged partnership” between India and Mexico.
“Indian communities settled in different parts of the world are making an important contribution to the economy, life, culture and social values of those nations,” she said, adding though the number of Indians and the people of Indian origin in Mexico is not very large, they have begun to make a mark in this country, particularly in the economic sector.