Narendra Modi and Barack Obama to host 'Mann ki Baat' on air on Republic Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama are likely to air their 'Mann ki Baat' in a joint All India Radio (AIR) broadcast to the nation on the Republic Day .

This is expected to be the Indian equivalent of the joint editorial in the Washington Post that the two heads of state jointly wrote during the PM's visit to the US.

A senior official of the ministry of external affairs disclosed that the plan for the radio broadcast from 7, Race Course Road "is still being firmed up".

Indian officials are reported to be in touch with their US counterparts on the issue.

If the plan for the joint address on AIR comes through FM, radio channels will also be allowed to broadcast it, so that the message on the India-US partnership can be beamed across to a larger audience.

Plans are also being chalked out for a 'Chai pe Charcha' between the two heads of state in the presence of select corporate chiefs of the two countries at the sprawling Hyderabad House grounds.

The two leaders are expected to give a fillip to the growing economic relations between the two nations.

Another function at the Sri Fort is also being planned by the US embassy at which the US President is expected to speak on "India and America: The Future We Can Build Together".

Top corporate leaders, including Tata Group chairman Cyrus Mistry and Honeywell International chief Dave Cote, are likely to discuss several critical issues such as visa impediments for professionals during the India-US CEO forum on January 26.

Mistry and Cote are the cochairs of the India-US CEO forum.

India and the US are expected to sign an agreement to build three smart cities in Allahabad, Ajmer and Vishakhapatnam as part of the US initiative to participate in boosting India's infrastructure sector.

A senior Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) official told MAIL TODAY that top US companies have formed a consortium to assist the smart city projects.

"Issues such as totalisation agreement and problems related to issuance of US visas to Indian professionals may figure in the meeting," an official said.

India wants early conclusion of the totalisation agreement with the US.

Under this pact, an expatriate in either country need not contribute to social security schemes of the host country.

The India-US CEO forum has been recast ahead of the Obama visit.

The USIBC will also host a separate CEOs forum. Around 300 CEOs have been invited for this separate CEOs forum.

In association with Mail Today