Ø U.S. President Barack Obama may include Varanasi in his itinerary during his visit next month
as chief guest at the Republic Day parade. Though officials in Lucknow and
Varanasi are still clueless, Acting U.S. Ambassador Kathleen Stephens’ recent
visit to the ancient city points to the possibility. Prime Minister Narendra
Modi is keen on Mr. Obama visiting his Lok Sabha constituency on January 27,
but U.S. authorities have two major concerns: the small size of the Babatpur
(Varanasi) airport that would not be able to handle the logistics for Air Force
One — the President’s official plane — and the congested topography of the city
that has seen terror attacks, government sources said. With Air Force One, a
mammoth Boeing 747-200B being too big for the small airport, Mr. Obama would have
to travel as Mr. Modi does to his constituency — take an IAF aircraft to the
airport and then use a helicopter to land in the city, sources said. Though Ms.
Stephens had official engagements, her trip, just a day after Mr. Modi’s visit
on December 25, raised eyebrows in the State.
| Barack Obama |
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