WASHINGTON
- In the first state visit of the first Sikh Indian prime minister with
the first black American president, Manmohan Singh and Barack Obama
reaffirmed the strategic partnership between India and the United
States.
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| Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Barack Obama listen to their countries' anthems at the White House opening ceremony for Singh's first state visit with Obama. Photo: Sikh News Network. |
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| Singh-Obama News conference with Indian and American media followed the opening ceremony. Photo: Sikh News Network. |
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| Photo: Sikh News Network. |
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| Photo: Sikh News Network. |
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| Photo: Sikh News Network. |
A large number of Indian Americans waived and greeted Hillary Clinton when she arrived. She responded with Namaste.
“Mr. Prime Minister, yours is the first official state visit of my presidency, and it is fitting that you and India be so recognized,” Obama said. But above all, your visit, at this pivotal moment in history, speaks to the opportunity before us -- to build the relationship between our nations, born in the last century, into one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century.”
While Obama appeared charismatic and animated, Singh, in his signature, light blue dastaar, stood straight and did not show any emotion.
“This is a moment of great opportunity in our relationship,” Singh said. “India and the United States can, and must, work together to harness the immense potential of our talented and enterprising people, and support each others growth and prosperity.”
At the news conference that followed, Obama and Singh resolved to expand collaboration on counterterrorism. While Singh urged Obama to continue America’s engagement in Afghanistan, Obama deferred a detailed Afghan policy until next week.
But Singh was successful in getting a commitment from Obama to an early and fully implementation of the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement initiated by the Bush administration.
Among the Indian guests at the opening ceremony were the country’s top billionaire industrialists: Ratan Naval Tata of the Tata Motors, Sunil Bharati Mittal of Bharti Group, Analjit Singh of Max India, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw of Biocon, O. P. Bhatt of the State Bank of India, Deepak Parekh of HDFC Bank and Krishnan Gopalakrishnan of Infosys.
Indian officials included S. M. Krishna, external affairs minister; M. K. Narayanan, national security advisor; Shyam Saran, special envoy on climate change; Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and Ambassador Meera Shankar.
The American welcoming committee included Vice President Biden, Secretary of State Clinton, Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, and Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty.
Obama is expected to visit India next year.Note: Top photo: Sikh News Network
By Anju Kaur
Sikh News Network staff journalist
[email protected]
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