PM Modi will not join Donald, Melania Trump on Taj Mahal tour: Govt sources
Donald Trump’s Agra visit “will afford them [Donald Trump and Melania Trump] the opportunity to view the historical monument suitably”, so “no official engagements or presence of senior dignitaries from the Indian side is envisaged there”, sources said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not accompany US President Donald Trump in Agra but will be there alongside him in Ahmedabad — government sources clarified Saturday morning.
Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are scheduled to visit Ahmedabad on February 24 where PM Modi will be present to greet them.
However, Donald Trump’s Agra visit “will afford them [Donald Trump and Melania Trump] the opportunity to view the historical monument suitably”, so “no official engagements or presence of senior dignitaries from the Indian side is envisaged there”, sources said.
“We have seen media reports regarding PM’s presence in Agra in connection with the visit of President Trump…PM Modi will be with President Trump in Ahmedabad, where a public reception will be accorded to President Trump and the US First Lady on February 24, and in the Delhi leg of the visit where official engagements are envisaged on February 25,” sources further said.
Donald Trump’s first stop in India is Ahmedabad where a major public event awaits him – ‘Namaste Trump’ – followed by bilateral talks in New Delhi.
While the substance of the strategic partnership will be discussed in New Delhi, the two leaders are expected to jointly address a massive public rally at the newly built Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad. Trump will look at this as a political opportunity to garner support from the Indian-Americans back home.
Ahead of the visit, there have been talks about India and the United States agreeing on a trade package as a precursor to a major trade deal.
During his commencement address, Donald Trump had indicated that the talks on this might slow down if he did not get a good deal. “Maybe we’ll slow down. We’ll do it after the election. I think that could happen too. So, we’ll see what happens,” he had said earlier.
