US President Barack Obama may still be in Washington, but a doppelganger is already having a busy day in Mumbai.
The US Secret Service is making him lay wreaths — countless times — in the lobby of the Taj Mahal Hotel in memory of those who died in the Mumbai terror attack two years ago. The lookalike of the most powerful leader in the world is then instructed to turn in a specific direction to give “waiting media persons” a perfect photo opportunity. The media persons turn out to be a few locals.
That’s just the beginning of a hectic day for Obama’s stand-in, who then makes a statement to the motley group of “journalists”. Secret Service personnel promptly steer him towards the 12-room presidential suite. Importantly, he doesn’t wait for a single question from the “scribes”. “Obama” is then taken to the nearby Trident Hotel in a bulletproof car to deliver an address at the mock USIBC summit.
While the drills are putting a smile on the faces of visitors to the hotel, it’s serious business for US security and intelligence personnel, who don’t want to leave anything to chance. Each invitee to the events at all venues has a stand-in, requisitioned for the purpose.
But the nearly 450 actual invitees -- comprising the who’s who of India Inc -- may not be amused by the fact that the Secret Service staff refer to them as “bodies”. Instructions were being issued specifying that no delays by the “bodies” would be brooked at the venues on Saturday and Sunday.
Similar mock drills are being conducted at Mani Bhavan in south Mumbai, where Obama and wife Michelle will go to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, and St Xavier’s College. It’s at the college that the Obama lookalike gets the loudest cheers — some consolation for a man, who will be nowhere to be seen when the real thing lands in Mumbai.
