US, India stand united against terror, says Obama
Mumbai: Stating that the US stood together with India against terror, visiting US President Barack Obama on Saturday said that his choice of Mumbai, the city which witnessed attacks the 26/11 attacks, was to sent out a strong message against terrorism.
“Mumbai is a symbol of incredible energy and ever since those horrific days, Taj has been a symbol of strength and resilience of Indian people,” Obama said after meeting survivors of 26/11 attacks at the Taj Hotel here, which was also one of the scene of the attacks.
On the interpretations that the programme at Taj is symbolic, he said: "Absolutely."
Obama, who visited the 26/11 memorial at the hotel and signed the visitors’ book along with his wife Michelle, said India and United States would jointly combat terrorism since no one would forget the horrific images of the Mumbai attack.
He said the terrorists wanted to create a division but in India the Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, Christians and Jews helped each other.
“Resolve of Indians in stark contrast with the savagery of the terrorists,” he added.
Reiterating US support to India in combating terror, Obama said, “I look forward to deepening our cooperation in counter terrorism with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when I meet him.”
“India and the US are working more closely in counter-terrorism. Our two governments have been sharing intelligence to avoiding more attacks and demanding that the perpetrators be brought to justice. We will never forget awful images of the 26/11 attacks, the flames from Taj Hotel that lit up the skies on those four days of November, 2008," he added.
Earlier, the wait was finally over as US President Barack Obama arrived India in a historic trip beginning with Mumbai.
Obama's special plane Air Force One touched down Mumbai at 1250 pm, as he emerged out of the aircraft holding the hand of First Lady Michelle Obama, and waved.
He was received by Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and Union Minister and Obama's Minister-in-Waiting for the trip, Salman Khurshid.
Obama, who is starting his 10-day four-country tour of Asia with India to prise open the Asian economy for US and create jobs back home after a major jolt in the midterm elections, chose to visit Mumbai first in a symbolic gesture.
Mumbai is the financial capital of India and also the city which bore the brunt of the 26/11 terror strikes.
In keeping with the itinerary Obama boarded a chopper to fly to INS Shikra, a naval air station in Colaba, from where he travelled by road to Taj Mahal Hotel.
Mumbai has been turned into a fortress ahead of the high-profile visit.
Security drills with about 5,000 US and Indian personnel was conducted ahead of his visit in all the venues of Obama's functions and stays, besides the routes of his movement in Mumbai.
India's elite NSG and Force One commandos carried out the security drills, police said.
Several roads were closed to traffic and street vendors.
At least 250 journalists are accompanying Obama in this crucial trip which the President would try to use to create jobs back home.
He will be in India till Nov 9.
Obama is accompanied by a high-level delegation that is likely to include his National Security Adviser Tom Donillon; Timothy Geithner, Secretary of Treasury; Gary Locke, Secretary of Commerce; Thomas Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture; Rajiv Shah Administrator of USAID, and others.
A large business delegation, including 250 CEOs, is also accompanying the President.
Mumbai: Stating that the US stood together with India against terror, visiting US President Barack Obama on Saturday said that his choice of Mumbai, the city which witnessed attacks the 26/11 attacks, was to sent out a strong message against terrorism. “Mumbai is a symbol of incredible energy and...
Mumbai: Stating that the US stood together with India against terror, visiting US President Barack Obama on Saturday said that his choice of Mumbai, the city which witnessed attacks the 26/11 attacks, was to sent out a strong message against terrorism.
“Mumbai is a symbol of incredible energy and ever since those horrific days, Taj has been a symbol of strength and resilience of Indian people,” Obama said after meeting survivors of 26/11 attacks at the Taj Hotel here, which was also one of the scene of the attacks.
On the interpretations that the programme at Taj is symbolic, he said: "Absolutely."
Obama, who visited the 26/11 memorial at the hotel and signed the visitors’ book along with his wife Michelle, said India and United States would jointly combat terrorism since no one would forget the horrific images of the Mumbai attack.
He said the terrorists wanted to create a division but in India the Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, Christians and Jews helped each other.
“Resolve of Indians in stark contrast with the savagery of the terrorists,” he added.
Reiterating US support to India in combating terror, Obama said, “I look forward to deepening our cooperation in counter terrorism with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when I meet him.”
“India and the US are working more closely in counter-terrorism. Our two governments have been sharing intelligence to avoiding more attacks and demanding that the perpetrators be brought to justice. We will never forget awful images of the 26/11 attacks, the flames from Taj Hotel that lit up the skies on those four days of November, 2008," he added.
Earlier, the wait was finally over as US President Barack Obama arrived India in a historic trip beginning with Mumbai.
Obama's special plane Air Force One touched down Mumbai at 1250 pm, as he emerged out of the aircraft holding the hand of First Lady Michelle Obama, and waved.
He was received by Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and Union Minister and Obama's Minister-in-Waiting for the trip, Salman Khurshid.
Obama, who is starting his 10-day four-country tour of Asia with India to prise open the Asian economy for US and create jobs back home after a major jolt in the midterm elections, chose to visit Mumbai first in a symbolic gesture.
Mumbai is the financial capital of India and also the city which bore the brunt of the 26/11 terror strikes.
In keeping with the itinerary Obama boarded a chopper to fly to INS Shikra, a naval air station in Colaba, from where he travelled by road to Taj Mahal Hotel.
Mumbai has been turned into a fortress ahead of the high-profile visit.
Security drills with about 5,000 US and Indian personnel was conducted ahead of his visit in all the venues of Obama's functions and stays, besides the routes of his movement in Mumbai.
India's elite NSG and Force One commandos carried out the security drills, police said.
Several roads were closed to traffic and street vendors.
At least 250 journalists are accompanying Obama in this crucial trip which the President would try to use to create jobs back home.
He will be in India till Nov 9.
Obama is accompanied by a high-level delegation that is likely to include his National Security Adviser Tom Donillon; Timothy Geithner, Secretary of Treasury; Gary Locke, Secretary of Commerce; Thomas Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture; Rajiv Shah Administrator of USAID, and others.
A large business delegation, including 250 CEOs, is also accompanying the President.
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