PM Modi pays floral tribute at Gandhi Statue in Washington

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived early on Tuesday morning at the Gandhi Statue located in front of the Indian Embassy here to pay tribute.

His convoy of cars arrived at the venue amidst tight security. He got out of his car after his security detail gave an all clear, and thereafter, he mingled with enthusiastic and cheering Indian Americans. He also waved at the crowd that had gathered at the venue.

The Prime Minister, dressed in a yellow and white attire, later paid floral tribute at the feet of the statue and offered his salutations.

The Indian delegation comprising of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Foreign Secretary Sujata Singh and India's Ambassador to the United States S. Jaishankar and his wife, besides embassy officials and staff were also present on the occasion.

The Gandhi Statue in front of the Indian Embassy near DuPont Circle here was dedicated on September 16, 2000 during a State Visit of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the presence of the then US President Bill Clinton.

The iconic bronze statue was designed by eminent Indian Gautam Pal and was gifted to the US Government by India.

Prime Minister is scheduled to visit the historic Lincoln Memorial and the recently established memorial for Martin Luther King Jr.

Besides that he will meet US President Barack Obama at the Oval Office for the summit meeting.