US President wants to create 'Obama Platter' on India visit

Washington: Not to be outdone by his Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, US President Barack Obama intends to create an 'Obama Platter' when he visits India in early November.

"I look forward to advancing our partnership and experiencing all that India and its incredible people and its ancient culture have to offer," he said, speaking at a reception hosted by Clinton for the visiting Indian delegation led by External Affairs Minister S M Krishna.

"And I intend to create an Obama platter," he said on a rare visit to the State Department to attend the reception for the visiting foreign minister to demonstrate that US-India ties are among his 'highest priorities' and will help define the coming century.

"Secretary Clinton, I think, as you may be aware, is a great admirer of India. And I know the sentiment is shared in return," Obama said in his opening remarks at the reception with both Clinton and Krishna standing by his sides.

He was curious to know what is on 'Hillary platter' which the popular Bukhara restaurant at ITC's Maurya hotel in New Delhi created for the Secretary of State, when she visited her favourite Indian restaurant during her India visit last year.

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As Obama greeted the gathered guests with 'Namaste' he wondered, if the Hillary platter had 'chapatti', amidst laughter at the reception.

"I am not going to divulge," said an obviously delighted Clinton.

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"You should try it, when you go there," someone shouted from the audience to be assured, "I will, I will try this."

Asserting that "relationship between India and the US would be a defining partnership of the 21st century", the President said, "That's why a third of my cabinet has visited India, and not only for the chapatis."

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Incidentally, the 'Hillary platter' created July 19, 2009 by Clinton at Delhi's famous Bukhara restaurant has much more than the chapati. The mouth-watering fare includes 'murgh malai kabab', 'seekh kabab', 'paneer tikka', 'tandoori aloo', 'sikandari raan', 'dal bukhara', 'tandoori jinga', 'mixed raita', 'naan and kulfi'.

Earlier welcoming the US President at the State Department, Clinton said Obama has a strong personal commitment to the US-India relationship.

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"Mr President, we have worked hard today, and we've actually been working hard ever since the strategic dialogue was agreed to between you and Prime Minister Singh.

"Many of people you see before you are the people who are actually doing the work that make Minister Krishna and I look like we're fulfilling our responsibilities.

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"But we so value this relationship," she said.