By IANS,
Ludhiana : Authorities in this industrial city of Punjab had some embarrassing moments Monday when Governor S.F. Rodrigues reached a little late at the venue of the state-level Republic Day function to unfurl the national flag.
Chief Secretary Ramesh Inder Singh had to stand-in for the governor to unfurl the flag after officials waited for Rodrigues to arrive.
However, the governor, who was to fly in from Chandigarh to Ludhiana, reached the venue in time to take salute from the marching contingents of police, para-military forces and students from educational institutions.
Officials told IANS that Governor Rodrigues could not reach Ludhiana on time because his helicopter could not take off from Chandigarh due to dense fog over the region.
Rodrigues decided on the spot to proceed to Ludhiana, 100 km from Chandigarh, by road.
His spokesman said that the governor reached the venue less than five minutes late.
“As per protocol, the Chief Secretary unfurled the flag but the Governor took the salute and gave his speech as per the schedule,” the spokesman added.
Rodrigues, a former army chief, later addressed a gathering at the the venue.
Rodrigues also hosted ‘at home’ in Ludhiana and another one at Punjab Raj Bhavan in Chandigarh Monday evening.