US president Barack Obama has been welcomed like royalty in India as he started a three-day visit aimed at turning his burgeoning rapport with the prime minister,Narendra Modi, into progress on climate change, defence and economic issues.
Obama’s arrival in the bustling capital of New Delhi on Sunday morning marked the first time an American leader has visited India twice during his presidency. Obama is also the first to be invited to attend India’s Republic Day festivities, which begin on Monday and mark the anniversary of the enactment of the country’s democratic constitution.
Obama’s limousine was later escorted through a metal gate and into the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, India’s presidential palace, by a cavalry regiment of the Indian army. He was welcomed with a booming 21-gun salute and inspected an honour guard.
High on Obama’s agenda with Modi is progress on getting the heavily polluted country to agree to curb carbon emissions. White House officials hope the surprise climate agreement the US struck with China in November might spur India to take similar steps.
Obama is also expected to push Modi to make changes to liability legislation in India that has prevented US companies from capitalising on a landmark civil nuclear agreement between the two countries in 2008.
Ahead of the big day of celebration, Obama walked in his socks into a walled courtyard to lay a large white wreath at the site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. He then shovelled earth and poured a pitcher of water around a young tree planted in his honour at the memorial.
But in a move likely to take some of the symbolic shine off of Obama’s trip, the White House announced shortly before he departed from Washington that the president had cancelled plans to visit the Taj Mahal in Agra. The president and first lady had planned to tour the famed white marble monument of love on. Tuesday, but instead will go to Saudi Arabia to pay respects to the royal family following the death of King Abdullaha.
Hours after US president Barack Obama had waved goodbye and flown out of India, a joint radio show - Maan ki Baat - with Prime Minister Narendra Modi was aired on Tuesday evening. They answered questions on a number of issues, Mr Obama more than PM Modi, who also moderated the show.
Ties between the US and India have been steadily improving since Modi took office last May. He and Obama met for the first time late last year in Washington, and officials from both countries say they quickly developed an easy chemistry. ....
