This Article is From Oct 03, 2014

PM's Energy While Fasting Impressed Obama, Say Officials

PM's Energy While Fasting Impressed Obama, Say Officials

PM Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama.

Washington: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "energy and vigour" despite a strict fast wowed President Barack Obama, say American officials.

Mr Modi, who had a working dinner with the President at the White House on Monday, sipped warm water while the courses served to others included crisped halibut with ginger carrot sauce and compressed avocados. Mr Modi was strictly observing the Navratri fast during his hectic tour of the US.

"They joked about the fact that the rest were eating and the Prime Minister (Modi) was fasting. The President expressed admiration for the energy and the vigour with which the Prime Minister was able to maintain this rigorous schedule on a diet of only warm water," Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Nisha Desai Biswal said to reporters.

"The President also expressed interest in having a conversation about yoga," she said.  

Mr Modi, 64, a  keen practitioner of yoga, in his address to the UN General Assembly this year, called for declaring an International Yoga Day.

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