No local issues behind cancellation of Obama's visit to Agra: DM

Agra District Magistrate, Pankaj Kumar, on Saturday said there were no local issues behind the cancellation of US President Obama's visit to the city. "We have been conveyed that the programme has been cancelled, however the reasons have not been specified. I can assure that no local reasons are behind it," he said.

"There have been no local concerns. Every issue was resolved be it security, be it travel plan, be it protocol, be it receiving see-off," he added. Meanwhile, security expert Commodore (retired) C Uday Bhaskar said it wasn't clear if the reasons behind the cancellation were domestic or political.

"Not very clear as to why the visit is either being cancelled or revisited. Whether it is due to domestic or political considerations in India or protocol reasons or a lack of understanding between the security services of India and the US," he said, adding that the visit has enormous political and diplomatic significance.

President Obama, who will arrive in the national capital on Sunday, will be the first US President to attend the Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest. Obama, who also visited India in 2010, will also be the first US President to visit the country twice while in office.

Also Read: US President Barack Obama leaves for historic India visit, will not go to Agra