With love from India: PM Modi gifts a special something to Barack Obama

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented US President Barack Obama with a copy of the 1950 telegram from the United States congratulating India on the adoption of its Constitution.

Both leaders held bilateral talks, discussing crucial issues of defence cooperation, energy and the nuclear deal.

Officials said "progress has been made" on the nuclear issue and India was looking forward to "effectively" work with the US in this "extremely important" field.

According to sources, a breakthrough is expected on the contentious issue, in a joint press conference by both leaders.

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama landed in New Delhi for their three-day visit of India.

PM Modi gifts President Obama a copy of 1st telegram from US to India's Constituent Assembly (Photo: MEA)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was at the Air Force Station at Palam to greet the visiting dignitaries. The three shared pleasantries before President Obama sat in his presidential vehicle 'The Beast' and left for his hotel ITC Maurya.

Obama was accorded a grand 21-gun salute ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Soon after he visited the Rajghat to pay floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. After paying his tribute, Obama also planted a sapling at Rajghat.

The visit was described as "one of India's most important diplomatic engagements in recent times" by officials here, who maintained that cooperation in key areas of defence, security, counter-terrorism and the situation in India's extended neighbourhood would be among the major issues to be discussed between Obama and Modi.