Modi will not accompany U.S. President to Rajghat

U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, will touch down in Delhi on Sunday morning for a visit that is historic and full of symbolism. Mr. Obama is the first American President to be the chief guest on Republic Day, and this is the first time an American President is visiting India twice in his tenure.

The visit will also see the second summit between India and the U.S. within four months and Mr. Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting for the fourth time in that period. The Obamas will, however, leave India a second time without seeing the Taj Mahal, as they have cut their visit short to travel to Saudi Arabia to pay condolences on the death of King Abdullah on Tuesday.

Mr. Obama will begin his visit with a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan followed by a visit to the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, whom he has often referred to as his “inspiration.” A senior official told The Hindu that contrary to reports, Mr. Modi would not accompany the Obamas to Rajghat, in the way that he personally escorted Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Gandhi memorial at Sabarmati Ashram.During the bilateral talks, the India-U.S. defence partnership is set to take centre stage, adding substance to the symbolism of Mr. Obama taking the salute at the military parade on Monday.

During the bilateral talks, the India-US defence partnership is set to take centre stage, adding substance to the symbolism that Mr. Obama will salute the military parade on Monday. While signing a new defence framework, the two countries are likely to discuss co-production deals as part of the Defence Trade and Technological initiative, as well as closer exchanges between the armed forces.

Economic issues are at the top of the agenda for both Prime Minister Modi and President Obama, and while officials are not optimistic of a Bilateral Investment treaty being announced, they hope to clear several issues that would “elevate the relationship”.

Investment treaty unlikely

“We’ll be looking for ways to open up greater exports in both directions, greater investment in both directions. So that will be a critical space,” said White House officials ahead of the visit. Fighting climate change and an agreement on renewable energy is also expected after talks, as are MoUs on counter-terrorism, cyber cooperation, and extended discussions on Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The most anticipated outcome is the possibility of a breakthrough on the nuclear deal over supplier’s liability and other issues that have held up the setting up of US nuclear reactors in India for the past decade. While negotiators of the nuclear contact group set up by Mr. Obama and Mr. Modi last year have met three times in the past few weeks, they have been unable to forge a breakthrough.

But officials said the final push could come when the “principals meet.” Dr. Sanjaya Baru, who was spokesperson to former PM Manmohan Singh when he and former U.S. President George Bush had similarly “forced a breakthrough” on separation of civil and military facilities in 2005, said he was confident a “similar moment” exists today.

“In 2005, President Bush over-rode domestic objections, and in 2015, I think PM Modi will over-ride the domestic opposition to forge a breakthrough,” he told The Hindu.

The two leaders will address a press conference after their meetings on Sunday evening, and the Obamas will be hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee to a banquet, which is expected to be a gala affair, with about 200 guests invited.