US President Barack Obama arrived here to a red-carpet welcome by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his unprecedented second visit.
In a departure from protocol, Modi received Obama and his wife Michelle at the Palam airport after they disembarked from Air Force One at around 9:50 am on January 25, 2015, for the three-day high-profile visit. Modi and Obama shook hands and hugged each other reflecting their personal chemistry.
Later, the US President was received by President Pranab Mukherjee in the forecourt of the imposing Rashtrapati Bhavan where he was given a ceremonial Guard of Honour and a 21-gun salute.
Obama, who has often talked about the influence of Mahatma Gandhi on his life, also visited Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial and paid homage to the ‘apostle of peace’.
After the official discussions followed by lunch, Modi and Obama went for a short stroll in the manicured gardens of the Hyderabad House.
Once they settled down at a special enclosure in the garden, Modi prepared tea for Obama as they continued their one-on-one discussion, reflecting heightened bonhomie between the two leaders.