US President Barack Obama arrived in India at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Sunday morning, to begin his much anticipated three-day visit to India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke protocol to receive and welcome him and the First Lady Michelle Obama at the tarmac. Both the leaders shook hands and hugged each other warmly.
He was accompanied by the Coal, Power and Renewable Energy Minister Piyush Goyal, who is the minister-in-waiting for President Obama during his visit, besides other officials.
The US President will be paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat next after a short stop at the ITC Maurya Hotel, where he is staying during this visit. In the afternoon there will be a ceremonial welcome for him at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
To broaden ties
Both sides will seek to break the deadlock in operationalising the civil nuclear pact, firm up a defence cooperation agreement besides broadening ties in areas like trade and investment.
Obama will be the first US President to grace the Republic Day parade as the Chief Guest tomorrow.
He will hold extensive talks with Modi on a number of strategic issues including ways to break the impasse in implementation of the civil nuclear deal and enhancing defence and economic ties.
Both countries are working hard to have “excellent” outcomes from the visit of Obama.
The two countries will also deliberate on ways to boost trade and economic ties as well as the crucial issue of climate change.
Both countries are working hard to have “excellent” outcomes during the visit.
Nuclear issue
Officials said “progress has been made” on the nuclear issue and India was looking forward to “effectively” work with the US in the “extremely important” field.
The Indian liability law holds the suppliers directly liable in case of a nuclear accident while countries like France and the US have asked India to follow global norms under which the primary liability is with the operator.
Since all the nuclear power plants in the country are run by the government—owned Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd, following international norms will mean the government would have to pay the damages in case of an accident.
Bilateral trade
Earlier this week, American Ambassador Richard Verma had noted that bilateral trade had grown five fold to USD 100 billion in the past decade, and added that, “We believe there is no reason it can’t grow another five—fold, to USD 500 billion by 2020.”
Climate change issue is also expected to figure prominently in talks between Modi and Obama.
Both Obama and Modi are also likely to discuss issues relating to India’s neighbourhood as well as global issues.
Obama to skip Agra
Curtailing his India-visit, Obama had decided to skip a trip to Agra to see iconic Taj Mahal to be able to fly directly from New Delhi to Saudi Arabia following the death of King Abdullah.
An unprecedented security arrangement, comprising Delhi Police and para-military forces, has been put in place in the city.
Snipers of Delhi Police and National Security Guards occupied all high-rise buildings on the routes which Obama will be travelling.
Central Delhi has turned into a virtual fortress with security agencies partly or completely shutting down nearly 71 buildings. Even bonafide citizens of this area, including MPs and officers of the Armed Forces, have been either issued special passes or have to establish their identities to enter the zone.
A joint team of the US Secret Services and sleuths of central security agencies were monitoring specially established control rooms which are connected to freshly installed CCTVs for the VVIP.
(With additional reporting from PTI)