Moscow: In a gesture marking their close friendship, Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday presented visiting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with a lithograph painting of Russian monarch Nicholas II, who had visited India in the 19th century, a map of India of that time as well as a Mughal coin.
The “very special gesture” of the Russian president “went beyond protocol” as no one had an inkling of it. The Russian president had personally got the items, said Indian Ambassador Ajai Malhotra to reporters here at a briefing.
Not only did Putin present Manmohan Singh with the gifts, he also explained the significance of the items, said the envoy. IANS
