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When Parliament hosted Putin

It was a momentous occasion marking the dignity and reserve befitting the President of Russia. But something was amiss. It was not as if Vladimir Putin lacked warmth.

But it lacked the awesome glamour that exuded from the personage of US President William Jefferson Clinton when he, like Putin on Wednesday, addressed both Houses of Parliament in March this year.

Clinton made history of sorts by unleashing teenager-like hysteria among Indian parliamentarians, including a good number of women members, who literally fell over each other to shake hands with him. Those unable to do so made an unseemly dash to 'grab' him so that they could later boast that they had "touched" the most powerful person on earth.

For Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the full attendance in Parliament's Central Hall Wednesday was no small matter. He had reportedly expressed his anxiety that some MPs might not turn up (which would be tantamount to a slight to the honoured Russian guest).

Yes, sure enough, the MPs turned out in full strength, gladdening the PM's heart. Vajpayee did not have to bother about who would be present during the US President's address because Clinton's fame had ensured a full House.

To equate President Putin with his US counterpart would be, er, inadvisable.

The Yankees are screaming from rooftops that they are the lone global policeman with the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Be that as it may, the Yankees know that Russia is no push-over. Least of all, their President.

Clad in a natty blue suit, pale blue shirt and a matching tie, President Putin evoked considerable attention with his young-college-guy looks and aristocratic reserve, which is synonymous with the upper crust of Russian political bigwigs.

Alighting from the Russian Zil limousine at Parrliament's main entrance, the Russian President was greeted by Vajpayee, President K R Narayanan, Vice-President Krishna Kant and others. Curiosity outweighed familiarity as the countenance of most of the MPs showed.

Some of them could not restrain themselves and took the initiative in advancing towards Putin, to shake hands. Slightly taken aback, he obliged with gentle smiles. After being introduced to senior ministers of the Vajpayee government, he was soon ensconced on the podium, sitting next to Krishna Kant. Before that, however, he shook hands with former prime ministers Chandra Shekhar and Inder Kumar Gujral.

After Kant's brief speech, Putin rose to deliver his own, triggering prolonged applause. He briefly acknowledged the applause again by nodding his head when he spoke about his country's resolve to fight international terrorism along with India since both countries had been affected by the scourge.

Vajpayee, sitting with his hands crossed on his lap, heard the Russian President in rapt silence albeit with his eyes closed.

When the prime minister spoke, it was President Putin's turn to hear him out, his head slightly cocked to the left. When Vajpayee referred to Indo-Russian cultural ties, especially the reference to Dostoeivsky and Raj Kapoor's films, which were so liked by the Russians, Putin joined the prolonged applause by clapping gently.

He again repeated the gesture when Vajpayee referred to the Indo-Russian resolve to fight forces of religious extremism and international (cross-border) terrorism.

The entire event barely lasted 40 minutes. As Putin rose to leave, a couple of women MPs draped dushalas around the Russian guest's neck and he accepted them by smiling. Later, a male MP presented another dushala.

With a final adieu to his Indian hosts, Putin got in his limousine, which soon glided out of sight. But hardly did the automobile go out of sight than an MP remarked that the event could have been more interesting but for the barrier of the Russian language.

The Putin visit: The full coverage

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