US President Trump to visit Sabarmati Ashram, preparations underway

Preparations to welcome Donald and Melania Trump are in full swing in Ahmedabad, where the two are scheduled to land tomorrow for their two-day visit to the country. Before heading to Motera Stadium to attend the 'Namaste Trump' event, the US President will likely go to the Sabarmati Ashram.

Ahmedabad: US President Donald Trump will visit Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad on Monday before heading towards a cricket stadium where he will address over 1,00,000 people.

Sabarmati Ashram was a key base of Mahatma Gandhi during the freedom struggle. He lived there between 1917 and 1930.

Official sources confirmed that Trump will spend some time in the Sabarmati Ashram before heading towards the Motera stadium to participate in the 'Namaste Trump' event.

According to organisers, three chairs have been set up for the visiting dignitaries as well as Prime Minister Modi to relax and take a view of the Sabarmati waterfront.

Traditional chairs with carving work, neatly secured with plastic wrappings, have been placed at the raised platform near the scenic waterfront.

Security has been heightened up in the wake of Trump's visit. Apart from the Gujarat police, officials from the US Secret Service have already reached the spot to ensure additional safety to the US President.

There was confusion over whether Trump will visit Sabarmati Ashram or not.

Several world leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Sabarmati Ashram in recent years.

The Ashram has been spruced up by local authorities ahead of the US president's visit.

'Namaste Trump' will be similar to the landmark 'Howdy, Modi!' event hosted by the Indian-American community in honour of Prime Minister Modi during his visit to Houston in September 2019, said an official.

Trump, accompanied by wife Melania, daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner, will arrive in Ahmedabad around noon on Monday for a little less than 36-hour-long trip to India.

Other members of the US president's delegation include Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien and Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette.

From Ahmedabad, Trump will travel to Agra before arriving at the national capital for the main leg of the visit. (with agency inputs)