Modi breaks protocol to receive Obama personally

LAHORE: Indian Premier Narenda Modi broke the set protocol on Sunday to receive his country’s 2015 Republic Day chief guest American President Barack Obama personally at New Delhi airport, telling the world how important the visit of the US head of state was for the world’s largest democracy.
Prestigious British media house BBC states: “After his arrival, the US president traveled to the presidential palace, Rashtrapati Bhavan, for an official welcoming ceremony. Obama laid a wreath at the Mahatma Gandhi memorial and planted a sapling.”
According to the 92-year old international public-service broadcaster “BBC” and numerous Indian media outlets, India Gate and the Rajpath (the King’s Avenue), where the Republic Day parade will be held on Monday (today), have been out of bounds for most people for the past few days.
Meanwhile, the “American Broadcasting Company (ABC)” reports: “The situation is made more complicated because foreign military aircraft will be crisscrossing overhead, tens of thousands of residents are expected to be clogging surrounding streets — and escape routes, and Pakistani militants have been threatening terror. There will be more than 80,000 Indian police and paramilitary officers in the streets, officials say. At least 15,000 closed-circuit TV cameras have been installed to watch the crowds. Every inch of the parade route has been scouted for pre-planted bombs.”
“ABC News,” television network, further reveals that an Indian plane will, for the first time, be watching all of this from above, monitoring any incoming projectiles or errant aircraft.
“ABC News,” added that while Indian security forces have turned down US demands for their snipers, they would, for the first time, be letting their chief guest to stand in his own car, the armored Cadillac known as “The Beast” — which Washington said was non-negotiable.
This is what the “BBC” has contended in this context: “Security has been upgraded at several upmarket hotels, where the US president and his team are staying. Traffic restrictions have been put in place across the city, and extra checks have been taking place at metro stations. Mr Obama’s visit to India has been shortened so he can visit Saudi Arabia and pay his respects following the death of King Abdullah. It means he will not now visit the Taj Mahal.”