US President Barack Obama on Tuesday shared his belief that the relationship between New Delhi and Washington DC can be one of the defining partnerships of the century, adding that this bond is due to the deep friendship between the people of the two nations.
"I realised that the sight of an American president on your Republic Day would once have seemed unimaginable, but my visit reflects the possibilities of a new moment. As I have said many times, I feel that the relationship between India and the US can be one of the defining partnerships of the century. When I spoke to your Parliament on my last visit, I laid out my vision for how our two nations can build that partnership," President Obama said, while addressing a gathering at the Siri Fort auditorium in the national capital.
"Today I want to speak directly to you, the people of India, about what I believe we can achieve together and how we can do it. My commitment to a new chapter between our countries flows from the deep friendship between our people. Michelle and I have felt it ourselves," he added.
Stating that it was an honour to witness the Republic Day parade, President Obama further said that he had 'recognised' India with his first state visit of his presidency.
"I bring the friendship and greetings of the American peoples. On behalf of Michelle and myself, thank you very much for welcoming me back to India. Bahut dhanyavad. It has been a great honour to be the first American president to join you for the Republic Day: with the Tricolour waving above us, we celebrated your constitution, paid tribute to your fallen heroes. In yesterday's parade, we saw the pride and diversity of this nation, including the daredevils on their Royal Enfields, which was very impressive - the secret service does not allow me to ride motorcycles," he said.
"I recognised India with the first state visit of my presidency, where we also danced to some pretty good bhangra. For the first time, we brought Diwali to the White House," he added, quoting lines from a Shah Rukh Khan movie to great applause.
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President Obama also stated that Mahatma Gandhi was somebody who had greatly inspired him, adding that American activist Martin Luther King Jr had referred to him as his 'guiding light'.
"India represents an intersection of two men who have always inspired me. When Reverend Dr Martin Luther King Jr was protesting racial segregation in the United States, he said that his guiding light was Mahatma Gandhi," he said.
"When Dr King came to India, he said that being here, in Gandhi's land, reaffirmed his conviction that in the struggle for justice and human dignity, the most potent weapon of all in non-violent resistance. Those two great souls are why we can gather here today: Indians and Americans, equal and free," he added.
President Obama, who was on a three-day visit of India, concludes his trip later in the day. During the trip, he became the first US president to attend the Republic Day celebrations and the first president to visit India twice while still in office.