Obama to be India's guest on Republic Day

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama's three-day visit to India next week coincides with India's Republic Day and reflects the growing relationship between the two countries.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Obama to speak at the Jan. 26 event in New Delhi on a significant national holiday noting India's democracy and 1950 constitution. Although the Republic Day invitation is the first for a U.S. President, it is meant as an honor and a signal of the comfort level in relations between New Delhi and Washington.

Obama will deliver a Republic Day address and visit the Taj Mahal and India's memorial to Mahatma Ghandi, and travel with First Lady Michelle Obama, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Sen. Mark Warner, R-Va., and a number of U.S. business leaders.

"This is an enormously important event for the Indian people," Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes, said, adding the invitation "sends a very important message to the world, as well as to the American and Indian people, about our commitment to embrace the potential of this relationship."

Although style is likely to supersede substance in the hastily-arranged visit, Obama and Modi are expected to discuss trade deals and terrorism in meetings.

Modi was a White House guest in September, shortly after he won the election for prime minister. Obama visited India in 2011.