05:48 – PM Modi and President Barack Obama Announce Nuclear Deal
New Delhi: “Six years after we signed a bilateral agreement we are moving towards commercial viability,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, announcing an agreement on the nuclear liability issue after talks with US president Barack Obama.
05:30 – India, US moving towards civil n-deal: Obama
New Delhi: We have achieved a breakthrough and are moving towards full implementation of the civil nuclear energy deal, said US President Barack Obama here Sunday.
Obama said there has been a breakthrough and the two countries were “moving towards full implementation” of the of civil nuclear energy deal.
“Civil nuclear cooperation is a step to elevate our relationship,” said Obama after holding summit level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Earlier Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “India and the US have a natural global partnership.”
After holding summit talks with visiting US President Barack Obama, Modi said the ties between the two countries “is a natural global partnership”.
“It has become more relevant in the digital age.”
“The success of this partnership is important for our progress and important for advancing peace, stability and prosperity around the world,” he added.
05:08 – Moving towards operationalisation of civil nuclear deal: Modi
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said India and US are moving towards commercial operationalisation of the Indo-US nuclear deal.
“Civil nuclear deal was the centerpiece of Indo-US understanding,” Modi said addressing a joint press conference with US President Barack Obama.
“Six year after the bilateral agreement, we are now moving towards commercial cooperation.” he said.
03:22 – ‘Gujarati Kadhi’, ‘Bhuna Gosht Boti’ for Obama
New Delhi: US President Barack Obama was served a sumptuous array of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, including “Gujarati Kadhi” – tangy curry made from buttermilk and gram flour, and “Bhuna Gosht Boti” – tender pieces of lamb cooked in tomato and onion masala, at the lunch hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here.
The non-vegetarian menu also included “Murgh Neza Kebab” – escallops of chicken marinated with gram flour, cream and cooked in tandoor – “Shrimp Karavalli”, stir fried tiger shrimps flavoured with tellicherry clack pepper and star anise, and “Mahi Sarson”, fish cooked with mustard.
Modi and Obama, who is the chief guest at India’s 66th Republic Day parade, held bilateral summit level talks at Hyderabad House here.
Other food items on the lavish menu included “Shatwar ka Shorba”, asparagus flavoured cream soup served with asparagus tip; “Nadru Ke Goolar” – kebab made of lotus stem, stuffed with figs and spices; “Ananas Aur Paneer Ka Soola” – chargrilled cottage cheese spiked with pineapple; and “Paneer Lababdar” – fresh cottage cheese chunks in onion and tomato masala.
“Kela Methi Nu Shaak” – unripe banana and fenugreek cooked together and tempered with cumin; “Mixed Vegetable Kalonji” – seasonal vegetables seasoned with onion seeds; “Matar Pulao” – aromatic basmati rice garnished with green peas along with an assortment of Indian breads were also on the menu.
For dessert, Obama was served “Gajar Ka Halwa”, a rich, sweet preparation of grated carrots, topped with pistachio; “Gulab Jamun” – small cheese dumplings, deep fried and soaked in sugar syrup, and fresh fruits.
On the menu, South Indian Coffee and Herbal Tea were also available.
2:45 – Obama pays tribute to Gandhi, plants sapling
New Delhi: US President Barack Obama, who is the chief guest at India’s 66th Republic Day parade, laid a wreath at Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial at Rajghat and planted a sapling in the complex on the bank of the Yamuna river Sunday.
Accompanied by Minister in Waiting Piyush Goyal and Rajghat officials, Obama placed the wreath and paid floral tributes at the memorial of the apostle of peace.
He also observed a moment of silence and went around the black granite platform, which has Mahatma Gandhi’s last words ‘Hey Ram’ inscribed on it. The entire complex, including the platform, was decked with flowers.
1:20 – Obama accorded ceremonial welcome, says it’s an honour
New Delhi: US President Barack Obama, who was accorded a ceremonial red carpet welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan Sunday, said it’s “a great honour” to be back in India. The 21-gun salute sounded as horses escorted The Beast – carrying the US president – down the path leading to the forecourt.
He was received by President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The military band stretched in ranks before him as the national anthems of India and the US were played.
Obama was introduced to union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Manohar Parrikar, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Nejeeb Jung, and Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha. Then he left for Rajghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi.
12:05 – As Obama Arrives at Rashtrapati Bhavan, White House Tweets ‘Jai Hind’
New Delhi: US President Barack Obama on Sunday arrived at the Rashtrapati Bhavan for a ceremonial welcome. Cabinet Ministers Manohar Parrikar, Venkaiah Naidu, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and Rajnath Singh are also attending the reception.
10:45 – Obama’s India trip: Indo-US ties to get big boost
New Delhi: Both countries are working hard to have “excellent” outcomes from the visit of Obama. The two countries will also deliberate on ways to boost trade and economic ties as well as the crucial issue of climate change.
Senior Cabinet ministers including Gadkari, Jaitley & Piyush will be in banquet hosted in honor of Obama at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Both countries are working hard to have “excellent” outcomes during the visit. Officials said “progress has been made” on the nuclear issue and India was looking forward to “effectively” work with the US in the “extremely important” field. The Indian liability law holds the suppliers directly liable in case of a nuclear accident while countries like France and the US have asked India to follow global norms under which the primary liability is with the operator.
Since all the nuclear power plants in the country are run by the government-owned Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd, following international norms will mean the government would have to pay the damages in case of an accident. Earlier this week, American Ambassador Richard Verma had noted that bilateral trade had grown five fold to $100 billion in the past decade, and added that, “We believe there is no reason it can’t grow another five-fold, to $500 billion by 2020.”
Climate change issue is also expected to figure prominently in talks between Modi and Obama. Both Obama and Modi are also likely to discuss issues relating to India’s neighbourhood as well as global issues. Curtailing his India-visit, Obama had decided to skip a trip to Agra to see iconic Taj Mahal to be able to fly directly from New Delhi to Saudi Arabia following the death of King Abdullah.
An unprecedented security arrangement, comprising Delhi Police and para-military forces, has been put in place in the city. Snipers of Delhi Police and National Security Guards occupied all high-rise buildings on the routes which Obama will be travelling. Central Delhi has turned into a virtual fortress with security agencies partly or completely shutting down nearly 71 buildings. Even bonafide citizens of this area, including MPs and officers of the Armed Forces, have been either issued special passes or have to establish their identities to enter the zone. A joint team of the US Secret Services and sleuths of central security agencies were monitoring specially established control rooms which are connected to freshly installed CCTVs for the VVIP.
09:45 – PM Modi greets Obama with hug
New Delhi: In a departure from protocol, Prime Minister Narendra Modi waited at the tarmac and personally received US President Barack Obama, accompanied by his wife Michelle, who arrived at New Delhi’s Palam airport on Sunday ahead of the 65th Republic Day celebrations.
The Obamas headed to the Maurya Sheraton hotel in their armoured presidential limousine ‘The Beast’, that had driven up to the tarmac. The car has both the US and the Indian flags on it today.
The US President will later be received at Rashtrapati Bhavan by President Pranab Mukherjee at noon for a ceremonial welcome, following which Obama will visit Rajghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi.
Modi and Obama hugged each other, reflecting their personal chemistry. Obama will be the first US President to grace the Republic Day parade as the Chief Guest on Monday.
He will hold extensive talks with Modi on a number of strategic issues including ways to break the impasse in implementation of the civil nuclear deal and enhancing defence and economic ties.
Both countries are working hard to have “excellent” outcomes from the visit of Obama. The two countries will also deliberate on ways to boost trade and economic ties as well as the crucial issue of climate change.
Obama’s itinerary for today:
US President Barack Obama arrives at 10am.
Ceremonial welcome ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Obama to lay wreath and pay homage at Mahatma Gandhi memorial at Rajghat.
Bilateral discussions at Hyderabad House: The two leaders will first have a restricted meeting, followed by delegation-level talks over lunch.
PM Modi to host lunch for President Obama.
Meeting and dinner hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee.
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Obama to arrive 10 a.m. Sunday
