US prez Obama to join R-Day celebrations at Modi's invite
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said he had invited US President Barack Obama to attend the upcoming Republic Day function as the chief guest.
"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," the PM tweeted.
The White House confirmed that Obama received the invite and had accepted it as well. Later, official Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry Syed Akbaruddin said in New Delhi, "He (PM) did extend an invitation to President Obama to be the Chief Guest of our next Republic Day celebrations.
"Following that diplomatic conversation which the Prime Minister had with President Obama, a letter was sent, formalising that invitation. We have now received a confirmation through diplomatic channels of President Obama agreeing to come to India as the first US President for a Republic Day function as the Chief Guest.
"This is also another first. President Obama would be the first US President to come to India, a second time during his term of office. We will now look forward to this development which stems from the initiative of our PM, which followed their bilateral meeting in Washington. We will keep you posted about further developments."
Modi was denied entry into the United States from 2005 until he was elected prime minister in May, after allegations he did too little to stop religious riots that killed at least 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, in his home state of Gujarat.
Modi denies any wrongdoing and the Supreme Court investigation did not find sufficient evidence to prosecute him.
India traditionally invites a head of state to participate as chief guest for Republic Day celebrations, which culminates in a military parade including its nuclear capable missiles.
Much of the hardware dates back to the Soviet era, when India had close ties with Moscow and relations with the United States were marked by mistrust. More recent defense purchases include billions of dollars of U.S.-made equipment.
(Reporting by Bill Trott and David Brunnstrom; Additional reporting by Frank Jack Daniel and Manoj Kumar in New Delhi; Editing by David Storey and Frances Kerry)
"This visit will mark the first time a US president will have the honor of attending Republic Day, which commemorates the adoption of India’s constitution. The President will meet with the Prime Minister and Indian officials to strengthen and expand the US-India strategic partnership," the statement said.
Modi and Obama most recently met at the G20 summit in Australia, and prior to that in Myanmar during the ASEAN summit. "You're a man of action," President Obama said when he met PM Modi at the G20 summit in light of the positive talks about WTO.
Earlier, PM Modi met President Obama in Washington when he travelled to the US to speak at the United Nations General Assembly. The bonhomie has continued since.
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"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," the PM tweeted.
The White House confirmed that Obama received the invite and had accepted it as well. Later, official Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry Syed Akbaruddin said in New Delhi, "He (PM) did extend an invitation to President Obama to be the Chief Guest of our next Republic Day celebrations.
"Following that diplomatic conversation which the Prime Minister had with President Obama, a letter was sent, formalising that invitation. We have now received a confirmation through diplomatic channels of President Obama agreeing to come to India as the first US President for a Republic Day function as the Chief Guest.
"This is also another first. President Obama would be the first US President to come to India, a second time during his term of office. We will now look forward to this development which stems from the initiative of our PM, which followed their bilateral meeting in Washington. We will keep you posted about further developments."
Modi was denied entry into the United States from 2005 until he was elected prime minister in May, after allegations he did too little to stop religious riots that killed at least 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, in his home state of Gujarat.
Modi denies any wrongdoing and the Supreme Court investigation did not find sufficient evidence to prosecute him.
India traditionally invites a head of state to participate as chief guest for Republic Day celebrations, which culminates in a military parade including its nuclear capable missiles.
Much of the hardware dates back to the Soviet era, when India had close ties with Moscow and relations with the United States were marked by mistrust. More recent defense purchases include billions of dollars of U.S.-made equipment.
(Reporting by Bill Trott and David Brunnstrom; Additional reporting by Frank Jack Daniel and Manoj Kumar in New Delhi; Editing by David Storey and Frances Kerry)
"This visit will mark the first time a US president will have the honor of attending Republic Day, which commemorates the adoption of India’s constitution. The President will meet with the Prime Minister and Indian officials to strengthen and expand the US-India strategic partnership," the statement said.
Modi and Obama most recently met at the G20 summit in Australia, and prior to that in Myanmar during the ASEAN summit. "You're a man of action," President Obama said when he met PM Modi at the G20 summit in light of the positive talks about WTO.
Earlier, PM Modi met President Obama in Washington when he travelled to the US to speak at the United Nations General Assembly. The bonhomie has continued since.
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