By Liz Mathew, IANS,
Santiago : President Pratibha Patil, who is on a visit to Chile, has donated $65,000 for the upkeep of Plaza de la India, a square dedicated to Indian leaders here.
Patil Monday paid tributes at the statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Rabindranath Tagore at the plaza and said: “The values and principles these great leaders of India expounded, namely truth, non violence, democracy, humanness and compassion, bind our two countries (India and Chile) together.
“We both are developing countries. My visit is intended to demonstrate the importance that India accords to improving and strengthening our bilateral ties,” she said while addressing a small gathering, mainly comprising Indians, at the square.
She also hailed the contribution of the members of the Indian community in Chile “who since 1905 have worked tirelessly for creating better business links and greater mutual understanding between the two countries”.
The Plaza de la India, a small square between two busy roads in Santiago, was inaugurated by then prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1968.