Obama Attends India #39;s Republic Day Celebrations
Obama Attends India #39;s Republic Day Celebrations Subscribe Please . The president became the first U.S. head of state to attend a parade to mark the day India adopted its constitution.
By: Gorbuier News
Link:
Obama Attends India's Republic Day Celebrations - Video
President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday declared an era of "new trust" in the often fraught relationship between their nations as the U.S. leader opened a three-day visit to New Delhi.
Standing side by side at the stately Hyderabad House, Obama and Modi cited progress toward putting in place a landmark civil nuclear agreement, as well as advances on climate change and defense ties.
But from the start, the day was more about putting their personal bond on display. Modi broke with protocol and wrapped Obama in an enthusiastic hug after Obama got off Air Force One.
Obama later told reporters that Modi's "strong personal commitment to the U.S.-India relationship gives us an opportunity to further energize these efforts."
Modi was as effusive. He called Obama by his first name and said "the chemistry that has brought Barack and me closer has also brought Washington and Delhi closer."
The centerpiece of Obama's visit was Monday's annual Republic Day festivities, which got underway on a foggy, rain-soaked morning in New Delhi. The crowd erupted in cheers as Obama, along with first lady Michelle Obama, emerged from his armored black limousine and took his seat next to Modi on a viewing stand overlooking the parade route.
Republic Day marks the anniversary of India's democratic constitution going into force. The parade, which weaves its way past the imposing India Gate monument and a memorial to the unknown soldier, is part Soviet-style display of India's military hardware, part Macy's Thanksgiving Day-type parade with floats highlighting India's cultural diversity.
Obama's presence would have been unlikely only a few years ago.
Relations between the U.S. and India hit a low in 2013 after an Indian diplomat was arrested and strip-searched in New York over allegations that she lied on visa forms to bring her maid to the U.S. while paying the woman a pittance. The official's treatment caused outrage in New Delhi, and India retaliated against U.S. diplomats.
The U.S. and India also were at an impasse over implementing the civil nuclear agreement signed in 2008. The U.S. insisted on tracking fissile material it supplied to India. Also, Washington was frustrated by Indian legal liability provisions that have discouraged U.S. companies from capitalizing on new energy development in India because of concerns about their legal responsibilities in the event of a nuclear power plant accident
Originally posted here:
Obama, Modi Declare Era of 'New Trust' in US-India Relations
On Sunday, President Barack Obama announced plans for the Interior Department to designate 12 million acres of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, including its coastal plains, for conservation. The possibility of such a move has been the cause of a lengthy battle between environmentalists and the energy industry for some time.
READ: Netanyahu visit continues to stir emotion
Though his administration could take some steps immediately, the plan would need the approval of Congress -- which Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, made clear won't be happening.
She called the Obama administration's move a "stunning attack" on Alaska's economy.
"It's clear this administration does not care about us, and sees us as nothing but a territory," Murkowski said in a statement.
"I cannot understand why this administration is willing to negotiate with Iran, but not Alaska," she said. "But we will not be run over like this. We will fight back with every resource at our disposal."
In a video posted on Sunday, Obama said his administration will set the land aside for conservation -- and that he'll ask lawmakers to give the region the United States' highest designation for land protection.
"I'm going to be calling on Congress to make sure that they take it one step further, designating it as a wilderness so that we can make sure that this amazing wonder is preserved for future generations," he said.
But Alaskan leaders said they're angry about the plan to protect a land that's important to bird, caribou and polar bear populations, with independent Gov. Bill Walker saying he could speed up state land leasing for oil exploration as a result.
Murkowski, as the Senate's energy chairwoman, is best positioned to fight Obama's proposal on Capitol Hill. But other Alaska Republican lawmakers criticized the administration's move, too.
Continue reading here:
Obama's Alaska move triggers fight
Jan. 26, 2015: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, and U.S. President Barack Obama, right, look out through rain covered protective glass to watch the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
President Barack Obama on Monday took in a grand display of Indian military hardware, marching bands and elaborately dressed camels, becoming the first American leader to be honored as chief guest at India's annual Republic Day festivities.
The crowd erupted in cheers as Obama, along with first lady Michelle Obama, emerged from his armored limousine and took his place on the rain-soaked parade route in the capital of New Delhi. The parade was the centerpiece of Obama's three-day visit to India, which is aimed at strengthening a relationship between the world's largest democracies that has at times been fraught with tension and suspicion.
Obama's attendance at the Republic Day celebrations was unlike any other event he has participated in during his overseas travel as president. He spent about two hours on an outdoor viewing platform, an unusual amount of time given Secret Service security concerns. Obama nodded in approval as Indian tanks and rocket launchers, some of them Russian-made, rolled down the parade route and air force jets sped by overhead.
Republic Day marks the anniversary of India's democratic constitution taking force in 1950. Beyond the show of military power, the parade included ornate floats highlighting India's cultural diversity. Obama gave a thumbs-up to the acrobatic balancing act of several groups of men on motorbikes, while Mrs. Obama smiled broadly at dance performance by young children.
Following the parade, the Obamas were to attend a reception with dignitaries at Rashtrapati Bhawan, the sprawling presidential palace.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invitation for Obama to attend the parade surprised White House officials. After some internal deliberation, Obama ultimately decided to attend and has sought to use the visit to turn his burgeoning personal friendship with Modi into policy breakthroughs.
U.S. officials have welcomed Modi's efforts to forge deeper ties with Washington, despite his own difficult history with the U.S. Modi was denied a visa to visit the U.S. in 2005, three years after religious riots killed more than 1,000 Muslims in the Indian state where he was the top elected official.
Officials in both countries say Obama and Modi developed an easy chemistry when they first met in Washington last fall. The two leaders spent several hours together Sunday and heralded their close relationship.
Obama said Modi's "strong personal commitment to the U.S.-India relationship gives us an opportunity to further energize these efforts." And the Indian leader declared that "the chemistry that has brought Barack and me closer has also brought Washington and Delhi closer."
Read more:
Obama takes in India's Republic Day parade alongside PM Modi
PM Modi President Obama Joint Press Interaction, New Delhi
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the US President, Mr. Barack Obama, during the Joint Press Interaction, in New Delhi on January 25, 2015.
By: Narendra Modi
Here is the original post:
PM Modi & President Obama Joint Press Interaction, New Delhi - Video