OBAMA'S SUCCESSFUL VISIT TO INDIA
Date: 29-01-2015
"At the invitation of Prime Minister Modi, the President would travel to India in January 2015 to participate in the Indian Republic Day celebration in New Delhi as the Chief Guest.
This visit will mark the first time a US President will have the honour of attending Republic Day, which commemorates the adoption of India's Constitution. The President will meet with the Prime Minister and Indian officials.
This visit will mark the first time a US President will have the honour of attending Republic Day, which commemorates the adoption of India's Constitution. The President will meet with the Prime Minister and Indian officials.
"This Republic Day, we hope to have a friend over... invited President Obama to be the 1st US President to grace the occasion as "Chief Guest," Modi tweeted in a sudden development.
US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle started from Washington Andrew Air Force base Air Force One flight on 24-01-2015 Saturday along with high level delegation. And landing at Palam Air Port , Delhi at 10 AM on 25-01-2015.
US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle started from Washington Andrew Air Force base Air Force One flight on 24-01-2015 Saturday along with high level delegation. And landing at Palam Air Port , Delhi at 10 AM on 25-01-2015.
US President Barack Obama will miss his date with the Taj Ma hal for the second time as he called off his Agra visit sched uled for Tuesday to be able to travel to Saudi Arabia to offer condolences on the death of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz.
US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi greet each other warmly.
From Air Port went to Hotel ITC Mourya. After taking some rest at 1200 Hrs proceeded to Rastrapathi Bhavan. Warmly welcomed by Rastrapathi Pranab Mukharji, Prime Minister Modi and cabinet ministers. And received guard of honor by Army,Navy and Air Force Chiefs., honored with 21 times gun firing.
With Raastrapathi Pranab
within hours of obama came to India the significance of the completion of the India-US nuclear deal cannot be overstated. Signed in 2005, with an NSG waiver in 2008, the deal in limbo for a few years.
In his talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, both the leaders managed to remove the hurdles to operationalize the civil nuclear deal besides deciding to jointly produce military hardware and stepping up economic engagement.
In what Obama called a "breakthrough", the two sides resolved key hurdles pertaining to the liability of suppliers of nuclear reactors in the event of an accident and the tracking of fuel supplied by the US.
US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi greet each other during the India-US Business Summit in New Delhi on Monday. (PTI Photo)
PM Narendra Modi pays homage at Amar Jawan Jyoti, India Gate, on the occasion of 66th Republic Day Parade. (Photo: PIB/Twitter)NEW DELHI: Multi-hued images of India's rich cultural diversity and military might as well as achievements in diverse fields unfolded on Monday at the 66th Republic Day parade marched down the Rajpath in drizzle and overcast skies, thousands of spectators gathered along the route and cheered in joy.which had a US President — Barack Obama — as the chief guest for the first time.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama watch air show during the 66th Republic Day parade at Rajpath on Monday. Photo: PTI
In a departure from tradition for the chief guest at the Republic Day parade, Obama arrived in his own highly-secured bomb-proof vehicle, 'the Beast,' at Rajpath.
Obama's attendance at the Republic Day celebrations was unlike any other event he has participated in during his overseas travel as president. He spent more than nearly two-hour-long parade. As the , showcasing the country's 'unity in diversity', an unusual amount of time given Secret Service security concerns. Obama nodded in approval as tanks and rocket launchers, some of them Russian-made, rolled down the parade route and helicopters ferrying Indian flags flew overhead.
The national capital was wrapped in unprecedented security blanket as thousands of security personnel kept a hawk's vigil in and around the Rajpath area.
President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Pranab Mukherjee took the salute from a specially erected dais.
Talks between Obama and Modi took place in Hyderabad house "walk the talk" chaipe discussion.
1. Nuclear logjam broken
US Prez Uses Exec Powers To
Waive Intrusive Checks Agree To Set Up Rs 1,500cr
Cover For N-Suppliers
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi and US President Barack Obama seemed set to elevate
Indo-US ties to a new level
with a remarkable breakthrough on Sunday in India's
moribund 2008 civil nuclear
cooperation agreement with the US.
With Obama using his
executive powers to roll back the condition that US author ities be allowed to monitor use of
nuclear material purchased by India even from third countries,
the two leaders successfully
finalised the terms and conditions for operationalizing the civil nuclear deal. TOI had
reported on Sunday that a breakthrough was on the horizon with
the President expected to
use his executive powers, while a day earlier it had reported what was the sticking point.
In his press statement in
which he confirmed the development, Modi said US and India
shared a natural global
partnership. Indian officials attributed the successful conclusion of nuclear talks to Obama's
intervention as intrusive inspections by US authorities was the lone issue that was threatening
to derail the contact group meeting last week in London.
Officials said that the two
countries will follow the Canada template, which India had been seeking (as reported by
this paper earlier), under which US authorities wouldn't insist on inspections over and above those by IAEA.
“I am pleased that six
years after we signed our bilateral agreement, we are moving towards commercial cooperation,
consistent with our law, our international legal obligations, and technical and commercial viability ,'' said Modi in a
joint press interaction with Obama.
Obama also backed India's
phased entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), the Missile Technology Control Regime
(MTCR), the Wassenaar Arrangement, and the Australia Group to strengthen non
proliferation and export control regimes.
This development will not
just stamp Modi's authority on foreign relations but also earn him political mileage at
home.While the administrative arrangements were taken care of by the gesture from Obama, India's
2010 nuclear liability law too remained unscathed.
Describing Obama's visit as
historic, foreign secretary Sujatha Singh reaffirmed that both the contentious sections
-section 17 (b) which guarantees right of recourse against suppliers in the event of an accident
and section 46 which exposed suppliers to tort claims and potentially unlimited liability -conformed to IAEA's
Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC).
Modi and Obama walked on the lawns of Hyderabad House after their luncheon
meeting during which the nuclear issue too was discussed.
Today we achieved a
breakthrough understanding on two issues that were holding up our ability to advance our
civil nuclear cooperation and we are committed to moving towards full implementation,” said Obama at the press
interaction. “This is an important step that
shows how we can work
together to elevate our relationship.” The administrative
arrangements which the US
sought in the London meeting of the contact group had turned into a real hurdle even
though the meeting saw considerable progress over the liability issue. The US has agreed to
India’s proposal to build a riskmanagement insurance pool of Rs 1,500 crore to provide cover to
suppliers who shunned the civil nuclear agreement because it made them liable to pay
compensation in the event of a nuclear accident.While the General Insurance Corporation of
India (GIC) and other national insurers are expected to contribute Rs 750 crore for the pool, the remaining half
will be provided by the government.
The two countries were also
seeking to address concerns over section 46 which leaves
suppliers exposed to tort
claims. This section empowers ordinary citizens to file tort claims against suppliers,
something which was seen by the US industry as opening US companies to potentially unlimited
liability.
The development is likely
to be touted as a major achievement by the Modi government as the two countries can now
move to effect the civil nuclear deal “within the framework of law“ and without having to
dilute the liability law.
Easier for companies to invest in India's nuclear power sector.
3. Funds flow of $4 billion
4. Def fence agreement extended for 10 more years.
5. Providing HOT-LINE between two leaders.
Jan 27 2015 : The Times of India (Hyderabad)
Obama pledges $4bn loans
The US and India pledged to step up their economic engagement with President Obama promising finance facilities worth $4 billion and a new Indian Diaspora Initiative meant to help Indian Americans fund local businesses. While the Indian authorities, led by PM Modi promised to address concerns related to tax and ease of doing business that US companies voiced, Obama focused on offering support to upgrade infrastructure, renewable energy and small enterprises and realize the untapped business potential between the two nations.
Obama announced $4 billion of new initiatives to boost trade/ investment ties, jobs in India via Exim Bank and OPIC. Opened new source of financing for social development ventures with an Indian Diaspora Investment Initiative.
Jan 28 2015 : The Times of India (Hyderabad)
India will succeed so long as it is not splintered on sectarian
lines: Obama
`Everyone Has The Right To Practise Their Faith'
US President Barack Obama on Tuesday waded into the raging conversion dispute as
he reminded the Indian government and people that they ought to ensure freedom of religion as enshrined in Article 25 of the Indian Constitution. While Obama's assertion was more of a nudge than an admonition, he spoke at length about the freedom to be able to practice one's religion, reading out from Indian Constitution which guarantees freedom to practice and propagate religion. “Your Article 25 says that all people are `equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practice and propagate religion',“ said Obama in his address to a largely young audience, hours ahead of his departure.“In both our countries, in all countries, upholding this fundamental freedom is the responsibility of government, but it's also the responsibility of every person,'' he added. The US President went on to say that India was going to succeed so long as it was not splintered on sectarian lines.He recalled the attack on a Sikh temple in Wisconsin saying that this terrible act of violence had both India and US reaffirming that every person had the right to practise the faith of their choice. Obama's remarks came during the course of his almost hour-long speech titled “India and America: The Future We Can Build Together“. According to a report in New York Times, Obama was under pressure from advocacy groups to take up the issue of human rights while in India. Among his audience was Kailash Satyarthi, a fellow Nobel Peace Laureate. The focus on religion though was just one aspect of his speech in which he made a compelling case for stronger cooperation between India and the US. “India and US are natural partners but I believe they can also be best partners,'' he said. Obama also backed the just concluded negotiations for operationalizing the civil nuclear agreement which he said could help fight climate change through clean energy . He touched upon a number of global issues as he exhorted India to play a bigger role saying with greater power came more responsibility . “The United States welcomes a greater role for India in the Asia Pacific, where freedom of navigation must be upheld and disputes must be resolved peacefully ,“ said Obama.While reiterating support for India's candidature for permanent membership of UNSC, he said the two countries could work together for peace and stability in the region , including in Burma and Sri Lanka where, he said, there was new hope for democracy . He also sought closer partnership between the two countries in security and defence. The speech was peppered by references to Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr and also Vivekananda who, he said, brought to the US yoga and Hinduism. Twice Obama addresse d the audience as sisters and brothers of India after he referred to Vivekananda's speech in Chicago where he addressed the US audience as sisters and brothers of America. The manner in which Obama invoked his own background and also America's racial segregation in the past in pressing India on issues like women rights and religious freedom helped temper his message which could still ruffle some feathers here. Obama mentioned how his grandfather was the son of a cook in the British army .
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