Date:12/08/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/08/12/stories/2003081202951300.htm

National

President, PM's `Raksha Bandhan' greetings

New Delhi Aug. 11. The President, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, the Vice-President, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, and the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, have greeted the people on the occasion of ``Raksha Bandhan''.

The President said: ``Raksha Bandhan is a very important festival and a happy event where `unity of minds' in the real sense prevails among brothers and sistersleading to unity in the families, unity in the state and finally in the nation.''The Vice-President hoped the festival would herald in the true spirit of universal love, goodwill and compassion in society. Mr. Vajpayee said the festival symbolised the Indian concept of strong family ties and pervaded all communities and religions.