New Delhi: The President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, will reach India on Saturday in what will be his longest visit abroad. He will be arriving in Mumbai at around 1 PM on Saturday afternoon.
India will be hoping that Obama will make categorical statements on a number of issues including a permanent seat for India at the United Nations Security Council during his visit, but it is clear that the US President will be looking for significant concessions from India.
Obama, who is under pressure after the drubbing Democrats received at the hands of the Republicans in the US mid-term elections and the weak economy, spoke of the need to open new markets for American companies so as to boost the US economy and employment. Clearly the issue will be on top of his India agenda.
"I am going to be talking about opening up additional markets in places like India. American businesses can sell more products abroad in order to create more jobs here at home. And I am looking very much forward to helping to prize the markets open and put people back to work here at home during the course of this trip," said Obama before his departure.
India also a big wish-list ready for the US President and it wants: Removal of curbs on hi-tech exports, endorsement of a permanent seat in the UNSC, Recognition of India's role in Afghanistan and more visa access for professionals.
On the other hand the US has its own list ready.
What the US wants: Defence agreements worth $ 12 billion, creation of 60,000 jobs in the US, verification of Indian nuclear plants and agreement on more market access.
The two countries are likely to sign agreements in the following fields: trade and commerce deal, agriculture and monsoon studies, more access to US universities and clean energy.
But many irritants in the relations are unlikely to be resolved during Obama's visit.
The billions of dollars in military aid which Pakistan has been receiving from the US has been rankling India. The presence of terror groups on Pakistani soil who have been targeting India is anther major irritant along with Islamabad's refusal to act decisively against those responsible for the terror attacks in Mumbai in November 2008.
The outcry against outsourcing of US jobs to India is another hurdle. The move by US Congress to increase fees on high-tech workers' visas, relied on by some Indians going to work in America, also has rankled New Delhi.
The US president and first lady Michelle Obama boarded Air Force One in Washington DC and took off on Friday evening. The Presidential airliner stopped at Ramstein in Germany for refueling before heading for Mumbai.
Obama’s itinerary:
Obama has a packed itinerary during his three-day visit in India.
During his Mumbai leg of the tour, Obama is expected to attend the memorial service for the victims of 26/11 at the iconic Taj Hotel - one of the targets of the terror attack.
He will then visit the Gandhi Museum and address the US-India Business Chambers before retiring for the night at the Taj Hotel.
On Sunday, the US president will join Diwali celebrations at a school in Mumbai and then attend a Townhall meeting at Mumbai University.
On the same day he will leave for Delhi where he will visit Humayun's Tomb
Obama is also scheduled to meet Congress President Sonia Gandhi. After meeting Sonia he will attend two receptions - one hosted by the US Ambassador at Roosevelt House and the second by Prime MinisterManmohan Singh.
Obama will begin his third and final day with a visit to Rajghat and then proceed to a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister. The two leaders will then address a joint press conference. Obama will also be addressing the India-US CEO's forum before he heads to Parliament to address both houses.
Obama's next stop will be Rashtrapati Bhawan where he will be accorded a ceremonial welcome and meet President Pratibha Patil.
The meeting will be followed by a Presidential Banquet.
While in Mumbai, Obama may also meet a very special person - railway announcer Vishnu Zende who saved hundreds of lives on the night of 26/11. Zende was on duty at the CST railway station and had alert commuters and police over the public announcement system when he saw the Pakistani terrorists attacking commuters and continuously alerting them to leave the station. He had also intimated the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the government Railway Police as soon as the attacks took place.
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