<p>In the rarest of the rare gesture, US President Barack Obama personally walked down to the White House portico to see off Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after a meeting with him at the Oval Office today.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Those familiar with the strict White House protocol said that this is rarest of the rare gesture by the President, which they have not seen in the recent past.<br /><br />Officials in the past have noted that Obama has great respect for the Prime Minister not only as a great leader and a statesman but also as an economist. The two leaders have enjoyed a great personal equation.<br /><br />Obama had hosted his presidency's first State Dinner for the Prime Minister in November 2009 and has described India and United States as the indispensable partners of the 21st century.<br /><br />In his remarks, Obama praised the Prime Minister.<br /><br />"He has been a great friend and partner to the United States and to me personally during his tenure as Prime Minister of India," Obama said.<br /><br />"Across the board, Prime Minister Singh has been an outstanding partner," he added.<br />"Thank you so much for all your efforts to continue to strengthen ties between our two countries," Obama told Singh.<br /><br />Singh too praised Obama for his commitment for India US relationship.<br /><br />"During the time that I have been Prime Minister, and particularly during the time that President Obama and I have worked together, I think President Obama has made an outstanding contribution to strengthening, widening and deepening of our cooperation in diverse fields," Singh said.<br /><br />"In the President, the United States has a leader who realises and recognises the contribution that a resurgent India can make not only to fighting poverty, but also to global peace and prosperity," Singh said.<br /><br />Meanwhile, a group of Kashmiris and Sikhs held a protest demonstration outside the White House, even after the Prime Minister left after his meeting with Obama.</p>
<p>In the rarest of the rare gesture, US President Barack Obama personally walked down to the White House portico to see off Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after a meeting with him at the Oval Office today.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Those familiar with the strict White House protocol said that this is rarest of the rare gesture by the President, which they have not seen in the recent past.<br /><br />Officials in the past have noted that Obama has great respect for the Prime Minister not only as a great leader and a statesman but also as an economist. The two leaders have enjoyed a great personal equation.<br /><br />Obama had hosted his presidency's first State Dinner for the Prime Minister in November 2009 and has described India and United States as the indispensable partners of the 21st century.<br /><br />In his remarks, Obama praised the Prime Minister.<br /><br />"He has been a great friend and partner to the United States and to me personally during his tenure as Prime Minister of India," Obama said.<br /><br />"Across the board, Prime Minister Singh has been an outstanding partner," he added.<br />"Thank you so much for all your efforts to continue to strengthen ties between our two countries," Obama told Singh.<br /><br />Singh too praised Obama for his commitment for India US relationship.<br /><br />"During the time that I have been Prime Minister, and particularly during the time that President Obama and I have worked together, I think President Obama has made an outstanding contribution to strengthening, widening and deepening of our cooperation in diverse fields," Singh said.<br /><br />"In the President, the United States has a leader who realises and recognises the contribution that a resurgent India can make not only to fighting poverty, but also to global peace and prosperity," Singh said.<br /><br />Meanwhile, a group of Kashmiris and Sikhs held a protest demonstration outside the White House, even after the Prime Minister left after his meeting with Obama.</p>