PM Modi, President Obama pour their hearts out in 'Mann Ki Baat'

New Delhi: The bonhomie between US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued at a special radio broadcast of Mann ki Baat that was aired on Tuesday night.

The two leaders touched on issues like girl child, public health and personal experiences in the 35-minute special broadcast. The programme was conducted by Modi who read out the questions received from various parts of the country. Introducing the US President, Mr Modi said, “Barack in Swahili means a person who is blessed.”

At the outset, Mr Modi said most of the questions posed by people were “connected to politics, foreign policy, economic policy. However, some questions touch the heart. And I believe if we touch those questions today, we shall be able to reach out to the common man in different parts of the country.”

Modi tweets ‘Farewell @WhiteHouse!’

As Obama and his wife Michelle left India on Tuesday afternoon for the Saudi Capital Riyadh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said President Obama’s visit has taken bilateral relations to a new level and opened a new chapter. The White House also thanked Modi and the Indian people for making the visit memorable.

Mr Modi added that the “original commemorative stamp issued on January 26, 1950”, was on the “back cover of the US telegram” he had gifted President Obama. He also said he had presented the US President with a set of recordings from the tour of American singer Marian Anderson in 1957.

“Farewell @WhiteHouse! Your visit has taken India-USA ties to a new level & opened a new chapter. Wish you a safe journey,” Mr Modi tweeted as President Obama took off for Saudi Arabia in his Air Force One Presidential aircraft, concluding his three-day trip to New Delhi.

“Thank you @NarendraModi for a memorable visit, and to the Indian people for their warm welcome,” the White House said in a tweet, which was re-tweeted by Mr Modi.

Mr Obama, accompanied by his wife Michelle, folded his hands in a traditional “namaste” and waved before boarding Air Force One at the Palam airport where Union Minister of State Piyush Goyal and, foreign secretary Sujatha Singh, were among those present.

In another tweet, Mr Modi said, “Original commemorative stamp issued on 26th Jan 1950 is on back cover of the US telegram I gifted President Obama.” In yet another tweet, he said, “Presented President @BarackObama a set of recordings from the tour of American singer Marian Anderson in 1957. The recordings consist of Ms Anderson’s interview to AIR & a video capturing her rendition of the hymn ‘Lead Kindly Light’ at Gandhi Smriti.”

The visit of President Obama was fruitful as both countries had broken the logjam over operationalisation of the Indo-US nuclear deal although questions are being raised in some quarters on the actual financial liability that the foreign nuclear suppliers will face in case of a nuclear disaster.

Will be back to see the Taj, vows Michelle

President Barack Obama and Michelle may not have been able to see the Taj Mahal this time but the US First Lady on Tuesday said she will be back in India for a visit to the ‘monument of love’. When asked whether she was disappointed at not being able to see the Taj, Michelle said, “I am and I will be back.”

Obama and Michelle were scheduled to visit Agra today but the trip was cut short as the US President decided to go to Saudi Arabia to pay condolence to the Royal family following death of King Abdullah. A number of world leaders and their spouses had visited Agra to see the Taj Mahal.