Angela Merkel to remain seated during National Anthems
New Delhi, Nov 01: In view of her medical condition, India has accepted a request by the German government to allow Chancellor Angela Merkel to remain seated while the national anthems of both countries are played during a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday.
It is learnt that certain provisions of the order relating to the National Anthem of India will be invoked to allow Merkel to be seated when the national anthem is played.
Merkel, during her two-day visit here, will hold extensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on further expanding overall bilateral ties. Chancellor Merkel's difficulties in standing without support are known and lately, she has been seen seated at ceremonial events, both at home and abroad, which would have normally required her to stand.
The
exemption
as
per
the
order
is
being
invoked
based
on
a
request
from
the
German
side
to
accommodate
the
Chancellor's
wish
to
be
accorded
the
ceremonial
welcome,
it
is
learnt.
Recently,
she
has
been
seen
seated
at
various
events,
which
would
have
normally
required
her
to
stand.
Earlier
this
year
in
July,
she
remained
seated
when
the
German
and
Danish
national
anthems
played
during
an
event
welcoming
Denmark's
prime
minister
to
Berlin.
"Chancellor Merkel's difficulties in standing without support are known and lately, she has been seen seated at ceremonial events, both at home and abroad, which would have normally required her to stand," a government official familiar with the development told a leading portal.
Merkel reached Delhi yesterday on a two-day visit. She was received at the airport by Minister of State in the PMO, Jitendra Singh. During her visit, she, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will co-chair the biennial Fifth Inter Governmental Consultations, after which around 20 bilateral agreements are set to be inked between the two sides. This will be the fifth meeting between the two leaders within a year.