Rao leaves for US to discuss agenda for Obama's India tour

"I will meet the Chairman of the Senate on Foreign Relations Committee, National Secretary Advisor James Jones and Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns," Rao said hours before her departure for the US.

The Foreign Secretary will also join External Affairs Minister S M Krishna when he travels to New York on September 20 to participate in the UN General Assembly. 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 raising 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. Obama is visiting India in November and besides New Delhi, he 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.