President hosts 'at home' for freedom fighters on Rakshabandhan

New Delhi, Aug 9 (UNI) President A P J Abdul Kalam this evening hosted the traditional 'At Home' for freedom fighters this evening at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on the occasion of Rakshabandhan.

Freedom fighters representing all the states and Union territories participated in the 'At Home', which was also attended by Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal, Delhi Lt Gov B L Joshi, former Prime Minister I K Gujral, the Union Home Secretary as well as the Defence Secretary, Rashtrapati Bhawan sources said.

The sources said Dr Kalam spent time and interacted with each one of the freedom fighters and presented them momentoes.

The President also composed a special poem for the occasion titled 'The Beautiful Day'. The poem is as follows: "Sisterly love is like a full moon glow Brotherly love is shining like morning Sun Brightens the lives and our homes With nobility in thoughts may you live Long" The President asked all those gathered on the occasion to take a pledge to remove pain of at least five persons in distress.

UNI AR LL KP2046