Gujarat PG-rated for foreign kids

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat’s reputation as an unsafe state has apparently stuck, months after a return to ‘normalcy’ after last year’s riots.
As many as 25 students from Puerto Rico, who were all set to board the plane for Ahmedabad for the Navratri celebrations, were reportedly denied clearance at the last minute, due to security concerns.
Moreover, 29 student invitees from Bulgaria too gave the celebrations a miss, citing security reasons.The saving grace, however, was a contingent of 14 girls from Turkey who arrived in the city on Thursday.
In all, 75 students had been invited from Turkey, Puerto Rico and Bulgaria through Rangbahar by the Gujarat government to participate in the Navratri extravaganza.
“We were all ready with roses to receive the children from Puerto Rico. Apparently, the government there refused them clearance because of threat perceptions,� Shilpa Patel, director of folk dance and theatre group, Rangbahar, told TNN.
“Bulgarian students too have cancelled the trip. They must have been in touch with the Puerto Rico group and decided to cancel,� Patel said.
Initial confirmations were given by all three countries but only 14 girls from Turkey arrived. The girls in the age group of 8-14 years belong to the Turkey Radio Television (TRT) folk dance group.
The students will be taken on an extensive sight-seeing-cum-learning tour to Patan, Junagadh, Anand, Vadodara, Rajkot and other cities.
In Ahmedabad, the Turkish students visited DPS School and St Xavier’s Loyola Hall School on Thursday morning where raas garba was performed by the local students. The Turks, in turn, performed folk dances from their country.
“The garba is wonderful. The colours, the dance steps are enchanting,� 12-year old Selina told TNN through a translator. “We are looking forward to learning more about the rich culture of the state during these nine nights,� said Denise, co-ordinator of the TRT group.
Officials of the education department skirted questions on why students from two countries did not turn up. “We have no idea,� said an official accompanying the Turks.
“We have no information,� said commissioner of schools, Jayanti .