Cancer-stricken cartoonist Ramesh Chandra gets to meet Modi in Australia
Acting on a news item on Headlines Today and the tweet a few days ago, Modi asked his officials to ensure that Chandra could reach the venue for the event.
It was a much-awaited Monday for the cancer-stricken cartoonist Ramesh Chandra, who finally met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Sydney's Allphones Arena after the India Today Group highlighted the ailing man's wish to interact with the premier.
During a recent meeting with Rahul Kanwal, the managing editor of TV Today Network, Chandra had expressed his eagerness to meet Modi and said there was no one to take him to Sydney Olympic Park, the venue for a planned gathering. Kanwal, who is in Australia to cover the Prime Minister's tour, tweeted about Chandra's desire.
Special arrangements were made after that by Modi's office for the meeting that most Indians can only dream of. Chandra has compiled a special series of his cartoons to mark Modi's visit to Australia.
Acting on a news item on Headlines Today and the tweet a few days ago, Modi asked his officials to ensure that Chandra could reach the venue for the event. He personally spoke to the organisers and made arrangements for Chandra to visit Olympic Park. Modi also tweeted, "Saw your Tweet @rahulkanwal. Have personally spoken to the organisers so that Rameshji can bless the programme in Sydney."
Kanwal had tweeted, "Cartoonist Ramesh Chandra said it would be his life's high point to meet @narendramodi. Glad PM will be able to make his dream come true."
Chandra said he couldn't believe his ears when he heard about the gesture by Modi. He said, "Zindagi safal ho gayi." Modi, who is in Australia to attend a G-20 Summit, will visit Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney. He will address Indian expatriates at the event at Sydney's Olympic Park.
While campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections, Modi had made special arrangements for NRI R S Bains' mother to attend his rally in Hyderabad.
"I have come here to meet Prime Minister Modi. I am very happy. For the past 67years, there is no development in India, but now, such a man has come to power who knows everything, is disciplined and such nice man can''t be found anywhere else. You are really fortunate to have such a man to lead the country," Chandra said on Monday.
"If I want to meet Prime Minister Modi, I don''t care about my health, as it''s a big thing that I am getting this opportunity in my life. Wherever he calls me I will go there, and I will wait here till he arrives," Chandra added.
"I want to do something for him, I am very happy; I am a cancer patient, and will not survive much. But, still I am so ecstatic about meeting Prime Minister Modi," Chandra said.
He also showed the cartoons that he has sketched for the Prime Minister, and said he has been doing this since the Prime Minister decided to contest the Lok Sabha elections.
Over 20,000 people thronged Allphones Arena at Olympic Park in Sydney to welcome the Prime Minister.