US President Obama welcomes PM Narendra Modi, greets him with ‘Kem Chho?’
Washington: President Barack Obama on Monday hosted a private dinner for Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House here, ahead of their summit level talks.
Modi was welcomed by Obama who greeted him in Gujarati, "Kem Chho?" (how are you?), the mother tongue of the Prime Minister.
Modi presented a special edition of Gita by Mahatma Gandhi to Barack Obama. It was prepared in Delhi and handed over to President Obama on Tuesday.
Modi also requested All India Radio for a copy of Martin Luther King's speech in India in 1959 and a photo of him at Rajghat. This was presented to the US President over dinner. Set in an informal ambiance, the dinner was the first opportunity for both the leaders to interact with each other.
However, the First Lady, Michelle Obama, gave the dinner a miss.
Both the leaders were joined by 20 attendees at the dinner. The President was joined by Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry and National Security Advisor Susan Rice among others.
Read: After showing strength in New York, Narendra Modi meets Obama over dinner in White House
Modi was accompanied by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Indian Ambassador to the US, S Jaishankar among others.
As Obama hosted Modi for dinner, the local Indian-Americans celebrated the Modi-Obama meeting by organizing a cultural event and performing "Garbha" dance in front of the White House.
Read: Barack Obama's private dinner for Narendra Modi may feature only vegetarian dishes
A small group of Kashmir separatists and Sikh separatists also held a protest outside the White House building, but they were far out numbered by the pro-Modi supporters.
There was an unprecedented level of security in and around the White House and Blair House, the official guest-house of the US President, in view of the two recent security breaches.
The Pennsylvania Avenue was closed for most part in the evening and the pro-Modi group and anti-India protesters were pushed far behind when the motorcade crossed the avenue on its way to the White House.
Read: Narendra Modi, Barack Obama to focus on West Asia
Obama received Modi at the South Gate of the White House and the dinner was held in Blue Room of the President's official residence.
The Blue Room is used for receptions and receiving lines, and is occasionally set for small dinners.
Meanwhile, Syed Akbaruddin, MEA briefed the media on PM Modi’s US visit. Here are the highlights:
- Narendra Modi played out his vision for economic development in India, he said the country is open minded and that we want change
- Most of the responses were enthusiastic, one of CEOs said there is great desire to participate in India's growth
- PM Modi said he was committed to stable tax regime
- PM Modi had a warm and cordial interaction with former US president Bill Clinton and Hilary Clinton earlier
- There was a long discussion with Bill Clinton about PM’s efforts to clean up Ganga
- Discussion with Barack Obama was largely sort of, a get to know each other approach
- Both PM Modi and President Obama shared commonalities over conversation which was spread over 90 minutes
- PM also laid out his hopes and aspirations for India, his development vision, how he feels US could help with that vision
- Both felt Indo-US relation is the most important and incumbent for both to strengthen it
Khem Cho Mr Prime Minister. Prez @BarackObama welcomes Prime Minister at door of the White House.
— Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) September 29, 2014Vice Prez Biden, Secy Kerry, Nat Security Adviser Susan Rice USAID chief Shah among invitees at Prez Obama's dinner for PM @narendramodi
— Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) September 29, 2014At dinner by Prez Obama PM @narendramodi accompanied by Minister @SushmaSwaraj , NSA Doval, Foreign Secy Sujatha Singh, Amb Jaishankar.
— Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) September 30, 2014