As Barack Obama touches Indian soil, White House tweets 'Jai Hind'

New Delhi, Jan 25: Minutes after US President Barack Obama arrived in New Delhi on a three-day visit to India, the White House took to Twitter to express its happiness. The tweet also greeted India with a 'Jai Hind'.

"President Obama is honored to be back in India to celebrate Republic Day and to begin a new chapter in the US-India partnership. Jai Hind!," a tweet by Obama's National Security Council (NSC) was retweeted by the White House.

US National Security Advisor tweeted, "Excited to be with President Obama in India to celebrate Republic Day - Jai Hind! This trip reflects President Obama's commitment to deepen our ties with India and take our partnership to a new level."

Jai Hind is a salutation which roughly translates to "Hail India" or "Victory to India". The term was coined by Major Abid Hasan Safrani of the Indian National Army (INA) and immoralised by Subhas Chandra Bose as the battle cry of the INA.

Earlier in the day, in a departure from protocol, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Obama, who was accompanied by his wife Michelle and a high-level delegation, at the Palam airport.

Modi and Obama hugged each other, reflecting their personal chemistry. Obama will be the first US President to grace the Republic Day parade as the Chief Guest on Jan 26.

He will hold extensive talks with Modi on a number of strategic issues including ways to break the impasse in implementation of the civil nuclear deal and enhancing defence and economic ties.

Both countries are working hard to have "excellent" outcomes from the visit of Obama. The two countries will also deliberate on ways to boost trade and economic ties as well as the crucial issue of climate change.

OneIndia News

(With inputs from PTI)