New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee formally welcomed his US counterpart Barack Obama to India on Sunday at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
President Obama was accorded a ceremonial reception at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, with a grand welcome ceremony followed by the Guard of Honour, where the battalion was led by Wing Commander Pooja Thakur. The US President also received a 21-gun salute.
National anthems of both nations were also played to welcome the President.
Among the personages present to receive President Obama at the Rashtrapati Bhavan were Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Manohar Parrikar, Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu, Sushma Swaraj and Rajnath Singh, along with Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung. Minister of State Piyush Goyal, who shall be President Obama’s minister-in-waiting during the visit, was also present at the occasion.
Obama stated he was ‘honoured’ to visit India again, adding he was looking forward to participate in the Republic Day celebrations.
The official twitter handle of President Obama’s National Security Council (NSC) shared the visiting dignitary’s excitement.
“President Obama is honored to be back in #India to celebrate Republic Day and to begin a new chapter in the US-India partnership. Jai Hind!” it tweeted.
“This trip reflects President Obama’s commitment to deepen our ties with #India and take our partnership to a new level,” it added.
Earlier, Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama landed in New Delhi for their three-day visit of India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was at the Air Force Station at Palam to greet the visiting dignitaries. The three shared pleasantries before President Obama sat in his presidential vehicle ‘The Beast’ and left for his hotel ITC Maurya.
Obama was accompanied by a sizable delegation of top leaders on his trip to India, including Minority Leader of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, among others.
Obama, who is the chief guest of this year’s Republic Day parade, will be the first US president to attend the Republic Day celebrations. He will also be the first US president to visit the country twice while in office.