WASHINGTON: WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama is likely to arrive in India on November 5 instead of November 7 as originally scheduled. He will leave Washington DC on the night of November 4 soon after the mid-term Congressional election where many pundits are predicting severe reverses for the Democratic Party. He will be away from theUS for almost 12 days, one of the longest tours during his presidency, touchingIndia, Indonesia, Japan, and South Korea, before returning to Washington DC onNovember 14.The four-country visit involves major US friends andallies at a time when there is concern in Washington and Asian capitals overChina’s assertive stance. The trip, for now, also excludes Pakistan,Washington’s notional ally, which typically agitates for a visit wheneverUS presidents travel to India, and is peeved if that does nothappen.First lady Michelle Obama is expected to accompany him on atleast the first leg of his tour to India, contrary to earlier reports. But theirchildren, Malia and Sasha, are likely to miss out on a holiday they werereported to have looked forward to, because they will not be allowed to skipschool. Obama will be the sixth American President to visit India after (inpreceding order) Presidents Bush, Clinton, Carter, Nixon and Eisenhower.
Save some of those firecrackers if you are a fan of Barack Obama and/or a votary of better India-U.S ties: The American President will arrive in India on Diwali night, at the tail end of the festival of lights.TheWhite House has advanced President Obama’s visit to India by two days,according to sources. He will now be landing in India on the night of November5, instead of November 7 as previously reported. He is also likely to make ameaningful gesture by flying directly to Mumbai, scene of the 26/11 terroristattack initiated (according to Bob Woodward’s book) by the Pakistaniintelligence agency ISI.Obama is scheduled to address a U.S-IndiaBusiness and Entrepreneurship Summit in Mumbai on November 6 and pay homage tovictims of 26/11 terrorist attack before flying up north for the formal part ofhis visit.As reported in these columns, Obama will also make aday-trip to Amritsar on November 7 before he touches New Delhi for a ceremonialwelcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Although the schedule could change, he isexpected to address a joint session of the Indian parliament on November 8before leaving for Indonesia on the second leg of his four-countrytour.In fact, Obama will leave Washington DC on November 4 nightsoon after the mid-term Congressional election, in which many pundits arepredicting reverses for the Democratic Party. He will be away from the U.S foralmost 12 days, the longest tour during his presidency, touching India,Indonesia, Japan, and South Korea, before returning to Washington DC on November14.
The four-country visit involves major U.S friends and allies at atime when there is concern in Washington and Asian capitals over China’sassertive stance.The trip, for now, also excludes Pakistan,Washington’s notional and troubled ally, which typically agitates for acomparable and simultaneous visit whenever U.S presidents travel to India, andis peeved if that does not happen.First Lady Michelle Obama isexpected to accompany him on at least the first leg of his tour to India,contrary to earlier reports. But their children, Malia and Sasha, are likely tomiss out on a holiday they were reported to have looked forward to, because theywill not be allowed to miss school.Obama will be the sixth AmericanPresident to visit India after (in preceding order) Presidents Bush, Clinton,Carter, Nixon, and Eisenhower.
