Harper boosts security on six-day India visit with special armoured vehicles shipped from Canada

Mark Kennedy, Postmedia News | Nov 5, 2012 10:20 AM ET | Last Updated: Nov 5, 2012 10:42 AM ET
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REUTERS/Randall Palmer     Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper (L) and his wife Laureen share a light moment while speaking with the media during their visit to the historic Taj Mahal in the northern Indian city of Agra November 5, 2012. 

 

AGRA, India — Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife, Laureen, visited the Taj Mahal on Monday — one of the world’s most famous architectural gems.

Harper toured the mausoleum on the first day of his six-day visit to India.

The iconic white structure was built over two decades in the 1600s by an emperor, Shah Jahan, in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

The Taj Mahal was shrouded in a misty smog on Monday morning caused by pollution. Prior to Harper’s arrival, thousands of tourists were at the site.

Those tourists were then instructed by whistle-blowing security guards to leave the site so that officials could ensure it is vacant when the Harpers received a private tour.

After the tour, Harper met with journalists and said he was very impressed with what he had seen.
“It’s really something. You kind of have to come here to see it to believe it.

“People tell me it was built as a monument to the love of his Queen and it’s really a great gift of beauty to all of humanity.”

REUTERS/B Mathur   Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper (L) and his wife Laureen pose in front of the Humayun's tomb in New Delhi November 5, 2012. Harper is on a six-day state visit to India. 

 

Harper was asked if he was planning anything similar for his wife. The question prompted laughter from the prime minister and Laureen Harper, who was standing at his side.

“My wife has tastes a little more modest,” said Harper, as he smiled.
“And she also wants them while she’s still living”.

Laureen Harper, also grinning, added her own comment: “I’m not waiting until I’m dead.”

Harper arrived in India Sunday for a trip that will focus on boosting political and trade relations with the south Asian country that is emerging as a world economic power.

This is Harper’s second trip to India. A visit to the Taj Mahal was not on his itinerary in the previous journey, in 2009.

Asked why he chose to make it his first stop this time, Harper had a direct answer:
“It’s iconic,” he said.

“This is the thing, and believe me, it’s worth seeing. I recommend it to anyone.”

Harper is using two special armoured vehicles from Canada while visiting India.

A black sport-utility vehicle and a luxury sedan in the official motorcade carry Ontario plates.
Using cars from home is unusual, although the president of the United States brings his own transportation while abroad.

A spokesman for Harper referred all questions about the decision to ship over the vehicles to the RCMP, calling it a security issue.

A call to the RCMP was not immediately returned.

India has faced its share of terrorist attacks and political assassinations — including that of its own prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1984.

THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick   Prime Minister Stephen Harper's limo with Ontario plates is pictured in New Dehli, India on Monday, November 5, 2012.