Prime Minister Modi greeted President Obama with a hug at the Delhi airport on Sunday
US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle will arrive soon at Rashtrapati Bhavan for a ceremonial welcome. Prime Minster Narendra Modi, who broke from protocol to receive them at the airport, has arrived at the presidential palace.
Here are the latest developments in this story
President Obama and his wife landed in Delhi a little before 10 this morning, on a three-day visit to India. At the airport, PM Modi greeted President Obama with a hug and the leaders shook hands, before the US President and his wife got into their special car, called the Beast, that had driven up to the tarmac.
The beast, which has both the US and the Indian flags on it today, will also ferry them to the Presidential palace, where they are being greeted with a Guard of Honour.
President Obama has been invited by PM Modi to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations tomorrow. He will be the first US president to be chief guest at the Republic Day parade. He is also the first US president to visit India twice.
From the airport, the US President and his wife went to their hotel, the ITC Maurya, before their Rashtrapati Bhavan visit. After this, Mr Obama will pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.
President Obama will join PM Modi for a working lunch at the Hyderabad House this afternoon. The two leaders will have an expanded delegation level meeting expected to last for about an hour.
A one-on-one walk is also planned at the Hyderabad House. With progress in talks on a stalled nuclear deal, India is optimistic that a key breakthrough will be made, officials said.
President Obama will attend a state banquet hosted by President Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan this evening. Sources said 250 guests have been invited for the banquet.
Tomorrow, President Obama will be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade at Delhi's Rajpath. Later, the Obamas will attend an 'at home' reception hosted by President Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
On Monday afternoon, President Obama and PM Modi will participate in a CEO forum roundtable and address the US-India Business Summit. On Tuesday, the US President will give an address at the Siri Fort Auditorium before leaving for Saudi Arabia.
President Obama has cancelled a visit the Taj Mahal in Agra; he is cutting short his visit to fly to Saudi Arabia following the death of King Abdullah. Saudi Arabia is a longstanding US ally and the world's leading oil exporter.
Post a comment