PRIME Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron took part Thursday in a roadshow in the Pink City, where the visitor was presented a replica of Ayodhya’s Ram temple and offered masala chai from a teashop before the leaders sat down for bilateral talks. Macron, who is the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations in Delhi on January 26, also visited the hilltop Amber Palace, Jantar Mantar observatory and Hawa Mahal in a carefully curated tour that ended at an iconic palaceturned-hotel.

 

In the evening, the two leaders were driven in an open-top vehicle through a short stretch in the heart of the city, beginning from Jantar Mantar, the 18th century astronomical observatory which is now a UNESCO heritage site. They stood in the vehicle, chatting and waving at people who lined the route. Modi and Macron got down in front of the breezy Hawa Mahal. They admired the litup five-storey building with nearly 1,000 windows and ‘jharokhas’. The two leaders visited a handicrafts shop in the area. Modi, who led the consecration ceremony at Ayodhya’s new Ram Mandir this week, bought a small replica of the temple for the guest, according to the shopkeeper.

 

He paid Rs 500 for the artifact -– digitally, through UPI. And “Sahu chaiwala”, who had set up a temporary stall for the occasion, accepted Rs 2 as token payment for the masala tea offered to the leaders. Again, the payment was digital. The two leaders boarded the open-top vehicle again to continue the roadshow up to Sanganeri Gate. From there, they were to be driven to Rambagh Palace for dinner and the bilateral talks. Earlier, in the afternoon, the French delegation was received