Government today sought to put an end to a controversy, generated by President Pratibha Patil taking her two grandchildren on a nine-day state visit to
Seychelles and South Africa, saying it is a "normal diplomatic practice". 

"It's a normal diplomatic practice that a visiting dignitaries occasionally takes members of his/her family on visiting trips. Hospitality for such visiting dignitaries in such cases is usually provided by the host government. It is not abnormal," official spokesperson in MEA Syed Akbaruddin said. He was asked if it was usual for the President to travel with her grandchildren. 

Citing several examples of visiting heads of states travelling with their family members, he said it included the recent visit by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, who was accompanied by his son, and former US President Bill Clinton, who travelled with his daughter Chelsea on a visit here.