Modi broke the protocol and welcomed Obama

The Dhaka Times Desk Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke the protocol and welcomed Obama. US President Barack Obama arrived in India on a 3-day visit yesterday at 9:40 am Indian time.

US President Barack Obama arrived in India on a 3-day visit yesterday at 9:40 am Indian time. Barack Obama disembarked from Warforce One with his wife Michelle at New Delhi's fog-shrouded Air Force Station Palam. At that time, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the airport to welcome him, breaking the protocol. At one point, Modi hugged the US President in an emotional hug. At this time, Obama was given a red carpet welcome. This visit of US President Barack Obama is mainly on the occasion of India's Republic Day.

As per Indian protocol, it is not customary in India for the Prime Minister himself to welcome any other head of state at the airport. But Narendra Modi broke that protocol to convey a message of further maturation of India-US relations. Barack Obama and Michelle Obama arrived at ITC Maurya Hotel from the airport. From there, he went to attend an event organized at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Barack Obama was given a guard of honor at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The visit is expected to take India-US relations a few steps further in various fields including civilian nuclear deal, defence, infrastructure, information technology, economic assistance and investment. On the morning of January 27, Barack Obama will leave for Saudi Arabia after the speech at Siri Fort Auditorium.

According to the media, the left parties marched with at least 10,000 supporters in Kolkata on Saturday to oppose Obama's visit. Apart from 11 parties of Left Front, SUCI(C) and CPIML(Liberation) joined the march. On the other hand, a similar procession was also held in Delhi.

Obama-Modi sign nuclear deal

A nuclear deal was signed between India and the US on Sunday. US President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed the agreement.

According to Indian media reports, Obama and Modi had a bilateral meeting at the Hyderabad House Garden in the capital of India, New Delhi. In the meantime, these two heads of government signed the 2008 Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (Two Thousand Eight Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement). The official meeting of these two leaders started at Hyderabad House around 3:15 PM. After the meeting, they will address the media in a joint press conference.