Obama, who will be the first US President to be the Chief Guest at India’s Republic Day Parade, hugged Narendra Modi and showed warmth towards him. He then greeted the dignitaries present out there and took ‘The Beast’ Cadillac to proceed to the Hotel Maurya Sheraton in New Delhi
Obama also becomes the first US President to visit India twice. He had earlier visited India during PM Dr. Manmohan Singh’s tenure. Obama will pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat at 12:30 PM. He will later hold bilateral talks (including a one-one meeting) with PM Narendra Modi at the Hyderabad House followed by a luncheon. Energy, Trade, Defence and Economy will be high on agenda during the bilateral talks.
In the evening, Obama will meet President Pranab Mukherjee and attend the Banquet hosted him. Obama will attend the Republic Day Parade tomorrow. Heavy security arrangements have been made across Delhi and NCR with cops, special forces, commandos, intelligence sleuths and special officers from the United States taking charge with advanced equipments and arms and ammunition. Over 1,000 NSG snipers and 44,000 Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel are guarding the capital city.