Securitymen flustered as Clinton charms

By Sandeep Dikshit

HYDERABAD, MARCH 24. Villagers leaning across barricades became proud possessors of the U.S. President, Mr. Bill Clinton's autograph when he made a couple of unscheduled stops after delivering a lecture at the HI-TEC City. The 50-car convoy came to an unexpected halt with its tail still in the city as Mr. Clinton decided to shake hands with people and distribute autographs.

Barely minutes after he left HI-TEC city, Mr. Clinton, along with his daughter Chelsea, clambered out of the limousine to shake hands with the villagers. The duo then turned to acknowledge the cheers of students atop the National Institute of Fashion Technology building. He kept the Indian security personnel guessing when he climbed into his car but stayed put for a while. It later transpired that he was signing autographs which he then gave to his security personnel for distribution. While the American security personnel had the advantage of their internal communication network to understand the reason for the unscheduled middle-of-the-road halt and streamed out of their cars to throw a polite but secure ring around Mr. Clinton, their Indian counterparts were flustered and feared the worst. Their apprehension was assuaged only when they neared the limousine and saw the charismatic President leaning across the barricades with the U.S. security service in full attendance.

As the rear end of the convoy was still inside the function venue, invitees had to wait till it began moving after 10 minutes. The function also featured an unusual spectacle - that of top businessmen and politicians waiting patiently under the hot sun. Among them was the country's top industrialist, Mr. Ratan Tata, and several other politicians.

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