Amar visits Taj with British actor, heaps praise on UP govt
Former Member of Rajya Sabha Amar Singh visited the Taj Mahal here with British actor Orlando Bloom on Sunday. During his visit, Amar Singh praised the SP government for its effort to promote tourism in the state. He also praised foreign minister Sushma Swaraj for making possible the visit of Orlando Bloom.
Earlier, Amar Singh reached the Taj city with Orlando through Yamuna Express Way. Orlando’s visit had generated some controversy as he arrived in New Delhi from London on Saturday by a British Airways Flight at 1.30 am but was told that the e-Visa he had applied for had been rejected. The actor was deported back to the UK by the 4 am British Airways flight.
The actor finally made it to India on Sunday after intervention at the ministerial level.
When Orlando was asked about this deportation controversy due to rejection of visa, he said that it was due to some ‘misunderstanding’. He cherished his experience at Taj and termed it as ‘amazing’.
Amar Singh was more candid. “The immigration officer was extremely rude,” he said but lauded foreign minister Sushma Swaraj and Congress leader Salman Khursheed as they helped in making Orlando’s
ORLANDO WAS IN INDIA AS STATE GUEST TO PROMOTE TOURISM AND WAS EXTENDED AN INVITATION BY UP CM AKHILESH YADAV
visit possible.
Orlando was in India as state guest to promote tourism and was extended an invitation by UP CM Akhilesh Yadav, Amar Singh said, adding the chief minister was supposed to come to Taj with Orlando but could not make it.
Amar Singh and Orlando spent about 45 minutes in Taj Mahal.
Talking to newsmen after the visit, Amar Singh lauded the arrangements made at the monument. “I have visited Taj Mahal in the past also but it did not appear as beautiful as it was today,” he said.
“The SP government under chief minister Akhilesh Yadav is doing much to promote tourism in the state,” he said. When asked about his relations with the Samajwadi Party and the UP chief minister, he said, “Our relations are a matter of heart and not mind.”