New Delhi: US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle have begun their three-day India visit today. This is the first time that a US President will attend India's Republic Day celebrations.
Here is the timeline:
4.48 pm: PM Modi and US President Barack Obama addressed the a joint conference. After a quick handshake, Obama and Modi exited the briefing.
4:44 pm: Delegation level meeting ended, PM Modi and President Obama to issue joint statement shortly.
3:01 pm: Modi and Obama started their walk and talk session in the gardens of Hyderabad House. Following their deep discussion, they setlled down for a cup of tea.
1:13 pm: President Obama reached Hyderabad House for strategic talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This will be seen as the beginning of the formal dialogue between the two heads of states.
12: 48 pm: President Obama left Rajghat with a 'namaste'.
12: 47 pm: US President Barack Obama signed the visitors' book at Rajghat after paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. After paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, Obama also planted a sapling at Rajghat.
12: 28 pm: Barack Obama left Rashtrapati Bhavan for his next stop, Rajghat, where he will pay homage at Mahatma Gandhi Samadhi.
12:18 pm: US President Barack Obama inspected the Guard of Honour at Rashtrapati Bhawan. "Great honour to be back in India," said Barack Obama at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
12.10 pm: President Pranab Mukherjee received US President Obama at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, honouring him with a 21-gun salute. Michelle Obama did not accompany her husband for the event.
11.45 am: PM Narendra Modi reached Rashtrapati Bhavan for the ceremonial welcome of Obama. Senior Cabinet ministers Manohar Parrikar, Nitin Gadkari, Venkaiah Naidu, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Piyush Goel and Rajnath Singh are also present for the ceremonial reception for the US President.
10.30 am: US President arrived at ITC Maurya, amid tight security. Traffic restrictions have been put in place in the national capital for movement of Obama's cavalcade. Both carriageways of Sardar Patel Marg, which is next to ITC Maurya Hotel where Obama will be staying have been completely shut down for normal traffic.
9:45 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi waited at the airport tarmac and personally received US President Barack Obama, accompanied by his wife Michelle, who arrived at New Delhi's Palam airport on Sunday ahead of the 65th Republic Day celebrations.
The Obamas headed to the Maurya Sheraton hotel in their armoured presidential limousine 'The Beast', that had driven up to the tarmac. The car has both the US and the Indian flags on it today.
