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Carla Bruni likely to visit Taj Mahal
January 19, 2008. London, (PTI): Former
supermodel, Carla Bruni, may follow in Princess Diana's footsteps by visiting
Taj Mahal alone when her boyfriend French President Nicolas Sarkozy goes
on a two-day visit to India next week.
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Though Sarkozy has shortened his official
part of the visit to accompany Bruni to Taj Mahal, protocol problems might
compel her to visit the great marble mausoleum near Agra alone and not
with him, The Daily Telegraph reported Saturday.
"In two thirds of the countries of the
world it is impossible for Carla to officially sleep in the same bedroom
as the President. The problem is the President doesn't know how to stay
on his own at night in his room," one of Sarkozy's aides was quoted as
saying.
In fact, there have been mixed signals
from the Indian government over Bruni's possible presence, and it has asked
for a clue from France on her status before deciding where to put her in
official banquets. |
There remains the crucial
question of where
Bruni will sit to watch
the Republic Day parade
on January 26 where her
new-found love is the
guest of honour.
Sarkozy's diplomatic aides
have tried to persuade
him to prolong the official
part of his visit in which he
would conduct sensitive
talks on nuclear and defence
deals with the Indian government,
but he has ruled
out their suggestion, according
to the daily.
The 52-year-old President,
who divorced his wife of
11 years, Cecilia, in October
and met Bruni the
following month, has seen
his popularity ratings
declined in the polls since
Christmas because of his affair
French Prez Sarkozy visits
Taj without girlfriend Bruni.
Agra, January 26: French
President Nicolas Sarkozy visited the Taj Mahal, but contrary to intense
speculation he was not accompanied by his girlfriend Carla Bruni.
Accompanied by a big French
delegation, Sarkozy, who is currently involved romantically with model-turned
singer Bruni, kept his date with the monument of love.
Bruni's absence on the trip
to the Taj brought to an end to intense media speculation that she could,
despite not being part of the touring delegation, make an appearance to
be with Sarkozy as he visited the 17th century Mughal monument.
Sarkozy, 52, flew in to Agra
almost immediately after attending the Republic Day celebrations in Delhi,
where he was the Chief Guest.
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Carla Bruni naked pictures |
Meanwhile, the entire area around
the Taj Mahal was sanitised and all shops closed and the monument itself
was closed for public from 12 pm to 3 pm for the visit.
The French side had initially
indicated to India that Bruni might accompany Sarkozy, prompting questions
over protocol issues.
Whether or not Bruni would
accompany Sarkozy had turned out to be the highlight of the French President's
visit to India.
Bruni had sought to end the
speculation by telling a French daily that she would not be travelling
along with Sarkozy.
The French President is on
a two-day visit to India during which the two countries have agreed to
push their defence ties and announced their decision to launch civil nuclear
cooperation as soon as IAEA and Nuclear Suppliers Group give their nod.
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