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Jimmy Carter
 PRESIDENT
Jimmy Carter of the USA arrived in Delhi in 1978. The airport was packed
with journalists and VIPs in separate enclosures where Carter was
supposed to meet them on his arrival. I managed to get into this special
enclosure because I thought I would be able to get close to Carter and
have his sketch signed by him. As he arrived, I made an attempt to go
near him but the American securitymen who had taken control of the
airport held me back. They, then, subjected me to interrogation for
nearly four hours just to make sure that I was not a security risk.
The spokesman of the External Affairs
Ministry, the late Purushotham, took pity on me and assured me that I
would be able to meet the Carter at the time of his departure. He made
this possible despite objections by American securitymen who clearly did
not expect me to appear again at the same venue. I was introduced by the
then External Affairs Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, to Carter and his
wife Rosalin Carter. They both were happy to see their sketches and
readily signed on them.
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