India responsible for Barack Obama's security, says Minister of State Kiren Rijiju
New Delhi: Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju has said the security of any state head visiting the country is the responsibility of the host nation as a whole.
Rijiju's comments come in the backdrop of multi-tier security arrangements being made for US President Barack Obama's visit for this year's Republic Day celebrations. Obama will arrive in New Delhi on January 25 to take part in Republic Day celebrations on the invitation of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
He will be the first US President to attend a Republic Day celebration, the White House said. Obama, who visited India in 2010, would also be the first U.S. president to visit the country twice while in office.
"Any head of the state's visit has to be taken care of. It is a sovereign responsibility. It is not a question of one president of a country. It is the incumbent upon the security agencies, the whole state. As a nation, it is our responsibly," Rijiju said. Obama's participation at Republic Day celebrations as chief guest is a sign of steadily expanding ties between the two countries that share concerns about China's growing power in Asia.
India's relations with Washington have flourished in the past decade, although they have also had tussles over trade and other issues. The two countries are developing a strategic partnership prompted by shared concerns about China's increasingly assertive territorial claims in the Asia-Pacific region.
Modi met Obama on a visit to the United States in September last year and they have spoken by telephone since. Their relationship is thought to have helped resolve a major trade spat in the World Trade Organization.
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, while more recent defence purchases include billions of dollars of U.S.-made equipment.
