Obama Absent at Anti-Terror March, but Finds Time to Visit Taj Mahal With Wife

New Delhi: President Barack Obama will have a tight schedule during his three-day visit starting Jan. 25, as he will hold talks with the top leadership here on ways to make progress on key issues like defense and the civil nuclear agreement, besides attending the Republic Day celebrations.

Obama, who will be the first U.S. president to be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade, will be accompanied by his wife Michelle Obama and a team of senior officials in his administration.

On the first day of his visit, the American president and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are to hold talks on the entire gamut of bilateral ties and discuss ways to enhance ties in defense and nuclear energy. The two sides have already decided to renew a new defense pact for 10 years and to start joint development and production of military hardware.

Obama’s visit, his second to India, is also expected to give a fillip to the seven-year-old civil nuclear deal, stalled over tough provisions in the Civil Nuclear Liability Act here . . .

Before his departure from India, the president and the First Lady are to visit the Taj Mahal, the monument to love in Agra. Obama’s wife Michelle accompanied the U.S. president during their four-day trip in 2010 but the couple could not travel to Agra. (Read more about Obama going to visit Taj Mahal with his wife HERE)

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