NEW DELHI : In his first comments on arriving here on a three-day visit as the Republic Day chief guest, US President Barack Obama today said it was a ‘great honour’ to be back in India and he was grateful to the Indian leadership for the ‘extraordinary hospitality’ extended to him. “It’s a great honour to be back in India…grateful for the extraordinary hospitality,” Mr Obama told reporters soon after he was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Present at the Rashtrapati Bhawan ceremony were President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, top Cabinet Ministers and senior military and civil officials. Top Obama Administration functionaries, who have accompanied him on the trip, were also present.
The US President was given a 21-gun salute before he inspected a guard of honour. Leading the Guard of Honour was Wing Commander Pooja Thakur of IAF. This was the first time a woman officer led the Guard of Honour for a foreign dignitary. The National anthems of India and the US were played on the occasion. The US President later visited Rajghat to pay homage to Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi and planted a ‘peepal’ sapling. Earlier, Mr Obama, accompanied by his wife Michelle, arrived here this morning on three-day visit to India, his second trip to New Delhi as the American President. Breaking the protocol, Prime Minister Modi received Mr Obama and his delegation at the airport. The two leaders warmly shook hands and hugged each other.
After being received by Mr Modi, the US President and his wife boarded the armoured vehicle, which has been brought from the US by a separate aircraft earlier.
It is for the first time that any US President was visiting India for a second time.
The two leaders are reportedly engaged in formal talks at the Hyderabad house.
(AGENCIES)
Follow our WhatsApp channel