With US president Barack Obama's visit approaching fast, officials of various ministries ranging from commerce, human resources development, defence, home to external affairs are literally burning the mid-night oil to shape up possible agreements, talking points and to top it all to oblige guests with satisfactory security arrangements.
Is India prepared?
Since the US president will attend the Republic Day celebrations, the first in history at the India Gate Lawns, Delhi police personnel have been entrusted with a census of trees, planted right from Vijay Chowk to India Gate and with the mention on the health of each tree, to allow a smooth procession of Obama in the company of host president Pranab Mukherjee along the majestic Rajpath.
Is this enough?
In November 2010, security authorities in Mumbai went a step further by removing coconuts from trees around the city's Gandhi museum, which was then one of Obama's stops.
What's US embassy doing?
In Delhi, the American Embassy is keeping confidential Obama's visit plans in view of threat perceptions. Details trickling in suggest that Obama's first stopover will be outside Delhi, possibly either in Jaipur or Agra. Prime minister Narendra Modi has been keen on hosting the US president in his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi. A pre-advance team of US secret service recently visited the Taj Mahal complex in Agra, leading to speculations that Obama may land in Agra on January 24, before arriving in Delhi on January 25 for bilateral engagements. He is scheduled to return to Washington soon after attending the Republic Day function.
Where will Obama stay?
A team of advanced US security personnel is expected to arrive on January 12 and set up a control room and sanitise the 8th floor housing the presidential suite. During the visit of former president Bill Clinton in March 2000, the suite was synonymous with opulence, luxury, comfort and style, but was later demolished, and rebuilt and redesigned by the US security service. The Grand Presidential Apartment, is a two-bedroom luxurious mansion with silk-panelled walls, dark wood flooring and magnificent artwork with an exclusive private entrance, a private high-speed elevator and a state-of-the-art security systems.
How will he travel?
From January 20 onwards transport plans loaded with an assortment of security network along with the president's personal black Cadillac — dubbed Barack Mobile — will arrive. The specialised car has its own built-in communications centre to enable Obama to be in touch with the White House. The US president also carries a device having nuke launch codes and the nuclear switch. It can also withstand a chemical or germ warfare or a bomb attack.
Is security adequate?
As per reports, the Secret Service will position surveillance satellites to track each and every movement of the President. The US will also be flowing in teams of US Marines and other special forces to provide fool-proof security to the President.
At the Indian Air Force technical area of Palam Airport, hangers are being refurbished under a strict eye to house the US air force one, which is a customized Boeing 747-200b series aircraft. Known as flying White House, the aircraft is capable of refuelling mid-air, which makes its range unlimited and includes an extensive suite for the president, where he can call meetings like in his Oval Office.
What deals on the cards?
At the table, officials here are expecting to untie knots and push for a bilateral totalisation agreement and find ways to move on nuclear cooperation agreement, which has remained a non-starter, since it was signed a decade ago. While both countries have convergence in their views against terrorism, there are still gaps on how to tackle Pakistan. Protecting India's interests in the war torn Afghanistan, in the wake of new Kabul government wooing Pakistan and exit of NATO forces is also on top of agenda.
Will deals push India's agenda?
The totalisation agreement, being pushed by commerce ministry is likely to bring relief to Indian professionals working in the US. The matter had came up for discussions during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US in September last year. Sources here say, both sides have reached some sort of conclusion wherein it has been decided "some amount" of social security and medicare taxes paid by the Indian professionals working there will be repatriated. .There are about 35,000 Indians working in the US, of which most are in the information technology (IT) sector. While they pay $1 billion in social security contributions and for medical care, but they don't get benefits.
The foremost item will be the signing of commercial agreements under the US-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement. A contact group on advancing the implementation of civil nuclear energy cooperation, set up during Modi's US visit, has met twice to work out the modalities of the deal. The agenda will be finalised possibly during US secretary of state John Kerry's visit, who will be meeting Modi on the sidelines of the Vibrant Gujarat seminar on January 11. After that Kerry is likely to travel to Pakistan for US-Pak strategic dialogue.
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