India is all set to host US President Donald Trump with his maiden visit to the country in what's expected to be an unprecedented grand welcome ever hosted by New Delhi to welcome a head of a nation.
President Trump, accompanied by his wife Melania, daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner and top brass of his administration, will kick-start an eagerly awaited tour of India on Monday.
Trump will visit Ahmedabad, Agra and New Delhi in his 36-hour lond visit. Estimates say that India spent crores of Rupees in making special arrangements to honour the US head of state.
News agency Press Trust of India reports that Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are likely to focus on a wide variety of bilateral and regional issues that will include trade and investment, defence and security, counter-terrorism, energy security, religious freedom, proposed peace deal with Taliban in Afghanistan and situation in the Indo-Pacific.
Here are the Highlights on Donald Trump's India visit:
US President Donald Trump has left for a two-day visit to India today with an upbeat remark, saying he was told by his "friend", Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that his visit would be the "biggest event" India ever had. The US President left Washington DC this evening with First Lady Melania Trump, his daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, who are advisors to the President. A high-powered delegation is accompanying the group.
"I look forward to being with the people of India, we will be with millions and millions of people. I get along very well with PM, he is a friend of mine. PM told me this will be the biggest event they have ever had," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
India is the 24th country that US President Donald Trump will be visiting since he assumed office three years ago. Out of the 23 countries Trump has visited so far, India is the second country in South Asia which President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are visiting.
Donald Trump has visited Afghanistan, Argentina, Canada, China, Finland, Iraq, Israel, North Korea, Philippines, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Vatican City and the West Bank.
US President Donald Trump has left for India for his two days visit. He is accompanied by wife Melania, daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner.
"Two years after joining @narendramodi at the Global Entrepreneurial Summit in Hyderabad, I am honored to return to India with @POTUS and @FLOTUS to celebrate that the grand friendship between the world's two largest democracies has never been stronger!"
A day ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to Ahmedabad, various airlines have issued an advisory for February 24 asking passengers to arrive the airport three hours prior to the scheduled departure of their flights.
This has been done keeping in view of the heavy traffic congestion due to blocked roads in the city.
Passengers have been asked to keep a tab on live traffic and to carry a hard copy of their itinerary and photo-ID to access the blocked roads.
US President Donald Trump and First lady Melania Trump are likely to be accorded a traditional welcome complete with the traditional ''teeka'', garlands and stole at the ITC Maurya here on Monday night, sources said.
The five-star hotel, symbolised by the distinctive logo of hands folded in the traditional ''Namaste'', will harp on its own branding and the fact that ''Namaste Trump'' has been trending all over.
ITC Maurya, the hotel where US President Donald Trump will check-in on Monday, has been brought under an unprecedented security cover with anti-sabotage teams involving the Army and paramilitary conducting checks on the routes to be taken by the visiting dignitary.
Security agencies are also working in close coordination with the US Secret Service, officials told news agency Press Trust of India.