Kalam arrives in TN

Chennai, Sep 3 (UNI) President A P J Abdul Kalam arrived here tonight on a two-day visit to Tamil Nadu.

Dr Kalam, who arrived by a special IAF aircraft, was received at the airport by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, his Cabinet colleagues, Chief Secretary L Tripathy, Director General of Police D Mukherjee and respresentatives of the Defence forces among others.

Dr Kalam later drove down to Raj Bhavan for overnight stay.

The President would be attending six functions tomorrow, beginning with the 150th year celebrations of the University of Madras, where he would also inaugurate the renovated Senate House.

He would then drive down to airport and board a helicopter to Vellore from where he would reach Ambur by road to attend the Centenary celebrations of the Ambur Muslim Educational Society, before returning here to attend a series of functions.

The President would inaugurate the Centenary celebrations of the Indian Bank at the Chennai Trade Centre and proceed to Madras High Court to participate in the first anniversary function of the Tamil Nadu Mediation and Conciliation Centre.

Later, he would present the Tholkappiar Award to DMK President and Chief Minister M Karunanidi at Kalaivanar Arangam and conclude up his tour with a visit to the R and D Centre of the National Agro Foundation at the Taramani campus of Anna University.

After interacting with the farmers there, he would leave for New Delhi by the special IAF aircraft at 2130 hrs.

Meanwhile, Police sources told UNI that five-tier security arrangements had been put in place in view of Dr Kalam's visit to Chennai and Vellore.

More than 5,000 police personnel were deployed on security duty.

UNI GV SB KP2313