Obama makes history at India's Republic Day festivities
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President Obama joined Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, watching India's Republic Day Parade. Obama is the first US President to be honored as the chief guest at the festivities. (Jan. 26) AP
NEW DELHI — President Obama became the first American leader in history to be chief guest at India's grand Republic Day celebrations Monday, an honor that underscored the growing warmth between the two countries.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Obama watched the military displays, musicians and decorated camels from inside a protective glass enclosure.
Thousands came out despite the poor weather to see the festivities. For many, witnessing an important day in the growing U.S.-India friendship was also a large draw.
"It was very exciting especially when the two leaders arrived," said New Delhi resident Radhika Puran. "I saw them pass by the row I was sitting in. We had to reach the venue two hours before the parade and then the parade itself was very long, but I am happy to have seen it at least once in my life."
President Obama and his wife, Michelle, received loud cheers as they took their place on the parade route at Rajpath, New Delhi's ceremonial boulevard. The parade was the highlight of Obama's three-day visit, focused on strengthening ties between the two countries after years of tension and mistrust. Some said they hoped the visit marked a true change of direction.
"It's obviously a great moment — to have President Obama come and have the world's attention turned towards us, it's very exciting," said Delhi Metro passenger Swapnil Tyagi, 28. "At the same time, I hope it's more than just symbolic — I hope our two countries can act on some urgent matters like easing visa regulations — stuff that matters to normal folks."
Owing to security concerns, Obama's presence at the Republic Day celebrations — which mark the anniversary of India's constitution — was an unusual sign of trust and friendship.
"This is a very symbolically significant event — it's the biggest invitation India has to offer to a foreign head of state and in the past India has been wary of inviting the United States given that the two countries have not always had the warmest of relationships," said Sanjay Kumar, a political scientist at the Center for the Study of Developing Societies in New Delhi.
The warmth of this relationship between the two leaders — which was on display on Modi's September visit to the USA — has been a source of surprise to many. Until last year, Modi was banned from the USA for almost a decade over his alleged role in permitting the massacre of 2,000 Muslims when he was the governor of Gujarat state in western India in 2002. Obama lifted the ban after Modi took office, and the September visit began warming up ties that had been strained for years.
After Obama arrived Sunday, the two leaders hugged and Indian commentators noted personal contact between them throughout the visit.
Still, the visit also produced substance, say analysts. Obama and Modi said Sunday that they reached "a breakthrough understanding" in freeing up U.S. investment in nuclear energy development in India.
Picking up from a stalled 2008 civil nuclear agreement between the two countries, the deal would allow U.S. firms to invest in energy in India. It also resolves a dispute over U.S. insistence on tracking fissile material it supplies to the country and over Indian liability provisions that have discouraged U.S. firms from capitalizing on the agreement.
"From a distance, it does look like a huge breakthrough has been made on the nuclear liability bill — of course we still have to go through the details and understand what, if any, amendments are there, and what are the long-term implications of those," said Kumar.
"At this stage though, it does appear like India and the United States have broken through this eight-year old log jam on a very crucial front which will lift India out of nuclear isolation, and into the league of the world's major nuclear powers," he added.
Obama and Modi also pledged to enhance the U.S.and India's cooperation on climate change and clean energy.
While the growing closeness between the two countries surprises some, N.R. Bhanumurthy, a professor at the National Institute of Public finance and Policy in New Delhi, said the friendship is a natural consequence of India's new role in the global economy.
"China's economy is witnessing a slight slowdown, other developed nations – except the U.S. – are still in a bad shape. We are witnessing a shift of short-term investors from China to India," Bhanumurthy said. "This has created a strong, robust market performance in India. Everybody, including the World Bank, now agrees that over the next two or three years, India is likely to record higher growth than China."
Speaking in New Delhi on Monday Josh Earnest, a spokesman for Obama, told a news conference that Secret Service agents recovered a device found on White House grounds. He said early indications are that it does not pose a threat to anyone in the building.
Later Monday, Obama will participate at a CEO round table with Modi and deliver remarks at a U.S.-India business summit afterward. Obama will end his visit Tuesday with a speech to India's youth. From there, he will go on to Saudi Arabia to pay his respects to the royal family following the death of King Abdullah on Friday.
Some say they are happy Obama visited, but that it will be a relief when the trip is over.
"It's been a tense few days and I am just happy it went off without anything happening," said N. Shah, a police officer on duty at the parade. "But our job is not yet done, the entire force will be on high alert till the president leaves tomorrow, and maybe even after that. I am waiting for all this to be over — it will be nice to spend some time with my family."
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Obama makes history at India's Republic Day festivities
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President Obama joined Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, watching India's Republic Day Parade. Obama is the first US President to be honored as the chief guest at the festivities. (Jan. 26) AP
NEW DELHI — President Obama became the first American leader in history to be chief guest at India's grand Republic Day celebrations Monday, an honor that underscored the growing warmth between the two countries.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Obama watched the military displays, musicians and decorated camels from inside a protective glass enclosure.
Thousands came out despite the poor weather to see the festivities. For many, witnessing an important day in the growing U.S.-India friendship was also a large draw.
"It was very exciting especially when the two leaders arrived," said New Delhi resident Radhika Puran. "I saw them pass by the row I was sitting in. We had to reach the venue two hours before the parade and then the parade itself was very long, but I am happy to have seen it at least once in my life."
President Obama and his wife, Michelle, received loud cheers as they took their place on the parade route at Rajpath, New Delhi's ceremonial boulevard. The parade was the highlight of Obama's three-day visit, focused on strengthening ties between the two countries after years of tension and mistrust. Some said they hoped the visit marked a true change of direction.
"It's obviously a great moment — to have President Obama come and have the world's attention turned towards us, it's very exciting," said Delhi Metro passenger Swapnil Tyagi, 28. "At the same time, I hope it's more than just symbolic — I hope our two countries can act on some urgent matters like easing visa regulations — stuff that matters to normal folks."
Owing to security concerns, Obama's presence at the Republic Day celebrations — which mark the anniversary of India's constitution — was an unusual sign of trust and friendship.
"This is a very symbolically significant event — it's the biggest invitation India has to offer to a foreign head of state and in the past India has been wary of inviting the United States given that the two countries have not always had the warmest of relationships," said Sanjay Kumar, a political scientist at the Center for the Study of Developing Societies in New Delhi.
The warmth of this relationship between the two leaders — which was on display on Modi's September visit to the USA — has been a source of surprise to many. Until last year, Modi was banned from the USA for almost a decade over his alleged role in permitting the massacre of 2,000 Muslims when he was the governor of Gujarat state in western India in 2002. Obama lifted the ban after Modi took office, and the September visit began warming up ties that had been strained for years.
After Obama arrived Sunday, the two leaders hugged and Indian commentators noted personal contact between them throughout the visit.
Still, the visit also produced substance, say analysts. Obama and Modi said Sunday that they reached "a breakthrough understanding" in freeing up U.S. investment in nuclear energy development in India.
Picking up from a stalled 2008 civil nuclear agreement between the two countries, the deal would allow U.S. firms to invest in energy in India. It also resolves a dispute over U.S. insistence on tracking fissile material it supplies to the country and over Indian liability provisions that have discouraged U.S. firms from capitalizing on the agreement.
"From a distance, it does look like a huge breakthrough has been made on the nuclear liability bill — of course we still have to go through the details and understand what, if any, amendments are there, and what are the long-term implications of those," said Kumar.
"At this stage though, it does appear like India and the United States have broken through this eight-year old log jam on a very crucial front which will lift India out of nuclear isolation, and into the league of the world's major nuclear powers," he added.
Obama and Modi also pledged to enhance the U.S.and India's cooperation on climate change and clean energy.
While the growing closeness between the two countries surprises some, N.R. Bhanumurthy, a professor at the National Institute of Public finance and Policy in New Delhi, said the friendship is a natural consequence of India's new role in the global economy.
"China's economy is witnessing a slight slowdown, other developed nations – except the U.S. – are still in a bad shape. We are witnessing a shift of short-term investors from China to India," Bhanumurthy said. "This has created a strong, robust market performance in India. Everybody, including the World Bank, now agrees that over the next two or three years, India is likely to record higher growth than China."
Speaking in New Delhi on Monday Josh Earnest, a spokesman for Obama, told a news conference that Secret Service agents recovered a device found on White House grounds. He said early indications are that it does not pose a threat to anyone in the building.
Later Monday, Obama will participate at a CEO round table with Modi and deliver remarks at a U.S.-India business summit afterward. Obama will end his visit Tuesday with a speech to India's youth. From there, he will go on to Saudi Arabia to pay his respects to the royal family following the death of King Abdullah on Friday.
Some say they are happy Obama visited, but that it will be a relief when the trip is over.
"It's been a tense few days and I am just happy it went off without anything happening," said N. Shah, a police officer on duty at the parade. "But our job is not yet done, the entire force will be on high alert till the president leaves tomorrow, and maybe even after that. I am waiting for all this to be over — it will be nice to spend some time with my family."
Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1C5bzuA
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