Obama's team discusses protocol, security requirements

The US team, comprising officials from the protocol, security and press departments of President's secretariat, held a meeting with senior officials of these departments in the government, sources told PTI here today.

They said the Indian team comprised among others officials from Home Ministry, including officials from Delhi police and protocol department.
The US officials have apprised the Indians of their security requirements in the meeting held yesterday in Hyderabad House, they said.

Obama is visiting India in November and besides New Delhi, will travel to Amritsar and Mumbai, where he is expected to pay tribute to victims of 26/11 terror attacks. In Amritsar, the US President will be visiting the Golden Temple.

Meanwhile, a series of high-level meetings starting from this week with the visit of Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao to that country is slated to set the agenda for Obama's visit.
Rao will meet several senior officials in Obama administration, including Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns, who is expected to visit India next week.
The two sides, which are looking at a big idea or big ideas to frame Obama's visit, will also work on ironing out irritants created by recent US positions both on outsourcing and visa hike.

While Indians are not happy with the US hiking the H1-B and L1 visa fee and one of its states, Ohio, imposing a ban on outsourcing, the Americans, too, have their gripes and expect their concerns to be addressed, including those on nuclear liability bill, which was recently passed by Parliament.