Obama begins visit on symbolic note

Pays tribute to 26/11 victims; praises India’s resilience, but doesn’t mention Pakistan

US President Barack Obama today began his visit to India on a somber and symbolic note by paying respects to the victims of the 2008 terrorist siege here. But the first day of his visit ran into immediate controversy as he made no reference to Pakistan.

Soon after ‘Air Force One’ touched down on the dot at 12.50 pm, Obama and his wife, Michelle, headed to the iconic Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel, which bore the brunt of the 26/11 attacks. US’ first couple were first ferried by helicopter, then a motorcade, to the city’s iconic 107-year-old hotel.

Obama placed a white rose on a memorial to the attacks’ victims and signed a guest book. Later, outside the Taj hotel and with the Gateway of India in the backdrop, he addressed a small crowd of family members of those killed during the November 26 attacks, along with other survivors and the hotel’s employees.

“Ever since those horrific days two years ago, the Taj has been the symbol of the strength and resilience of the Indian people. So, we use our visit here to send a very clear message that, in our determination to give our people a future of security and prosperity, the United States and India stand united,” he said. He also quoted India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi in his well-guarded speech.

Obama recalled all the acts of heroism on that fateful day in 2008, and made special mention of hotel manager Karambir Kang, who stayed back in the hotel to help, in spite of losing his own family in the attack.

“We will always remember the events of 26/11, not only the sorrow but the courage and humanity that was displayed that day,” Obama wrote in the hotel guest book. Obama is left-handed and writes in a curious lop-sided manner.

Obama was taken around the Taj by Ratan Tata, the chairman of Tata Sons, which owns the Taj chain of hotels, and Raymond Bikson, the CEO of the Taj Group. Symbolically, the US president and many in his 3,000-person entourage will be staying at the Taj. All the 506 rooms in the hotel have been booked for the delegation.

But leaves BJP disappointed

In the National Capital, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expressed disappointment after the US president didn’t make any direct reference to Pakistan and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) for carrying out the terror strikes in Mumbai two years ago. Senior leaders of the BJP said Obama had missed an opportunity to connect with the people of India.

“It was the first address by the US President in Mumbai which saw the biggest terror attack on India. His statement was a complete disappointment as the world and the United States had proof that the attack was planned on Pakistani soil by its intelligence agencies and organisations supported by the Pakistani establishment,” Rajiv Pratap Rudy, BJP spokesperson, said.

The BJP leader also said that the core group of BJP is expected to meet on November 7 at the residence of senior leader L K Advani to decide on the issues that would be raised by Sushma Swaraj, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, when she will meet Obama on the afternoon of November 8.

Members of the BJP also attacked the government for providing a bailout package to the US President to create jobs for American citizens.