Washington, Feb 2 (IANS) The Obamas enjoyed their trip to India so much that US First Lady Michelle Obama is ‘determined’ to visit the country again, this time with her daughters Malia and Sasha.
US President Barack Obama himself conveyed this to India’s National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon when he dropped in on Menon’s meeting with his US counterpart Tom Donilon at the White House last week, according to diplomatic sources.
Obama asked Menon to convey to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh how much they enjoyed their November trip to India and how Michelle wanted to go there again with their daughters.
As if to emphasize he was not saying it for form’s sake, Obama reportedly added that the First Lady is a ‘very determined’ woman and she usually has her way.
The Obama children did not make it to India during their parents’ maiden visit last November because the Obamas did not want them to miss school during a four-country trip starting in India that would have kept them away for two weeks.
At the Menon-Donilon meeting, Obama also ‘reaffirmed his commitment to building a true global, strategic partnership with India.’
(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)
