The government on Monday issued a set of guidelines to the states and Union Territories directing them against welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a bouquet during his tours within the country. This comes a month after the Prime Minister urged people to "give a book instead of a bouquet as a greeting."
In a communication today, the Ministry of Home Ministry (MHA) directed all states and UTs that "no bouquet may be presented to the prime minister during his tours within India." At best will be a flower along with a khadi handkerchief or a book may be presented to welcome the dignitary, the communication reads.
All states/UTs are requested to suitably sensitise all concerned to ensure strict compliance of the above instructions, it said.
Speaking at the launch of P.N. Panicker National Reading Day celebrations in Kerala's capital Kochi, Modi had on June 17 urged people to "give a book instead of a bouquet as a greeting", saying there is no joy greater than reading and no strength greater than knowledge.
