India, US ties will continue to deepen: Obama

Leaves for India; Cancels Agra visit

25/01/2015

NEW DELHI: On the eve of his visit here, President Barack Obama today said the ties between India and the United States will continue to deepen in the 21st century on the basis of democratic ideals contained in the Constitutions of both the countries.
In his message to Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee on the occasion of the 66th Republic Day, Obama said he and his wife Michelle were looking forward to India visit and enjoy the "generosity, hospitality, and beauty that marked our last visit" in 2010.
"The Republic of India has nurtured the world’s largest democracy since adopting its constitution 65 years ago, while honouring the country’s rich and diverse cultural heritage.
“As we work to deepen the ties between our great democracies and advance our partnership for the 21st century, we will continue to do so on the basis of the democratic ideals contained in our constitutions," Obama, who will arrive here tomorrow morning to be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day, said in his message.
He said that it is a "great honour to serve as India’s Chief Guest during the Republic Day celebrations. Michelle and I very much look forward to returning to India, and once again enjoying the generosity, hospitality, and beauty that marked our last visit in 2010."
However US President Barack Obama has cancelled his much-publicised visit to Agra and would be leaving for Saudi Arabia from New Delhi on January 27.
While Obama has retained the programme of his address to a select gathering in Delhi on January 27, a visit to Agra to see the iconic Taj Mahal has been cancelled as the President will leave from New Delhi to Saudi Arabia whose king Abdullah died on Thursday night.
After Americans informed the change in the programme of the President, all concerned security agencies and local administration has been conveyed the same.
A senior UP government official in Lucknow said that Obama has cancelled all his personal programmes as he would be travelling to Saudi Arabia.
He was scheduled to visit the city of Taj with his wife Michelle Obama on Tuesday next for which elaborate security arrangements had been made.
The US President, who will be arriving in India tomorrow for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and be the chief guest at the Republic Day, will leave India on January 27.
US President Barack Obama will leave Andrews Air Force Base this evening for his highly anticipated three-day landmark trip to India on an invitation by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Obama will be accompanied by a sizable delegation that will include several top officials, as well as First Lady Michelle Obama, when he arrives in New Delhi tomorrow morning, the White House has said.
The president will be joined in India by multiple members of his cabinet, influential business leaders and a host of US lawmakers, including Nancy Pelosi, the minority leader of the US House of Representatives during the trip.
Air Force One, the presidential aircraft that will fly Obama to India, will have a brief refuelling halt over Ramstein in Germany and will touch down in Delhi at 10 am on Sunday at Air Force Station, Palam.
On his arrival, Obama will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at about 12 noon at the majestic Rashtrapati Bhawan by President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Thereafter, he will pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi at the Rajghat at 12.40 pm and participate in a tree planting event there.
Obama will then join Modi for a restricted working lunch at the Hyderabad House and participate in a "walk and talk" with the Indian Prime Minister there at about 2.45 p.M, the White House said.
The two leaders will then have an expanded delegation level meeting, which is expected to last for about an hour. They will jointly address the press at about 4.10 pm.
Later in the evening, Obama is scheduled to meet embassy personnel and families at ITC Maurya Hotel at 7.35 pm. He will then drive down to Rashtrapati Bhawan to attend the state dinner with President Pranab Mukherjee at 7.50 pm.
On January 26, Obama will participate in the Republic Day celebration as the chief guest along with the First Lady. Later, the Obamas will attend a reception with Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
In the afternoon, Obama and Modi will participate in a CEO forum roundtable and deliver remarks at a US-India Business Summit.
On January 27 morning, the US President will give an address at Siri Fort Auditorium. The Obamas will leave for Agra to tour the Taj Mahal before their departure from New Delhi.

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