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India and the United States (U.S.) will sign defence deals worth more than $3 billion today in New Delhi, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday during his two-day state visit.
After arriving in India’s western state of Gujarat, Trump delivered a speech at the world’s biggest cricket stadium, Motera in the city of Ahmedabad.
The visit began with the president receiving a bear hug from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a lavish welcome from the locals.
Trump also recalled the recent tri-services military exercises that took place between the two sides held in November 2019.
He told reporters that Vermont senator and Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is the 2020 rival he fears the most.
The president addressed a “Namaste Trump” rally before a 100,000-strong crowd at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad and praised the country’s economic progress, thriving Bollywood film industry and “very tough” prime minister – only to mangle the pronunciation of several key names, including that of legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.
Trump, who does not usually visit cultural sites on his diplomatic trips, took out time yesterday to visit India’s iconic Taj Mahal with his wife, Melania.
The Trumps, who arrived in India for a 36-hour trip, made a stopover at the city of Agra to visit the stunning white marble structure built in the 17th century by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his favourite queen, Mumtaz Mahal.
Taj Mahal stray animals were rounded up days before and all other tourists, even those who had booked online months ahead, were barred from the popular site for six hours from noon (0630 GMT), a police spokesman said.
Trump and Melania posed for photographs against the backdrop of the Taj Mahal lit by the mellow evening sun and walked around the complex, accompanied by a guide who informed them of the monument’s history and architecture.
The couple were seen chatting with each other and occasionally holding hands.
Trump may well have a soft spot for the monument. Way back in 1990, he had named a casino and hotel in Atlantic City now sold, the Trump Taj Mahal.
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The couple’s visit may have been brief, but the Archaeological Survey of India, which oversees the monument and the Agra city administration and police have been hard at work for weeks to ensure the VIP visitors had a smooth visit and saw the Taj Mahal at its best.
“All stray animals in the area cows, dogs and monkeys were rounded up and removed,’’ Agra Police spokesman Subhash Chand said.
Monkeys are known to occasionally attack visitors at the Taj Mahal.
Yellowing parts of the monument along with the graves of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal were given mud pack treatment, which is very much like the clay facials women get at a beauty parlour.
Large numbers of potted flowering plants were placed around the grounds almost overnight.
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