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No decision yet on venue for Bush's address
Ahead of US President George W. Bush's visit to India, officials of the two countries are still undecided on the venue from where he will address MPs and captains of industry.
Ahead of US President George W. Bush's visit to India, officials of the two countries are still undecided on the venue from where he will address MPs and captains of industry.
According to highly placed sources, officials of both countries held long discussions on Friday and are expected to meet again on Saturday.
There has been no consensus on using the 16th century Purana Qila here as the venue of Bush's address, the sources said.
Indian authorities had earlier rejected on security grounds a proposal for Bush to deliver his address at the Purana Qila.
A senior home ministry official had said the Americans were offered the Vigyan Bhavan and Teen Murti Bhavan in the capital as possible venues for the address but they seemed to be keen on Purana Qila.
Intelligence officials said the historical landmark was "not safe" for the US president to address a huge gathering because of its "openness".
An Advance Security Liaison team of US officials is currently in Delhi to review arrangements for Bush's visit to India in the first week of March.
Bush is expected to be in India from March 1 on a landmark visit to the region that will also include a foray to Pakistan and a possible stopover in Afghanistan.
