'I Believe America can be India's Best Partner': Obama During Town Hall Address at Siri Fort

The President of the United States Barack Obama concluded his speech at Siri Fort Auditorium with the promise that the US will continue to be partners with India forever. 

11:35 am IST: Obama and wife Michelle meet the people who came to attend the speech on 'India and America: The future we can build together'.

11:34 am IST: I may be the first American to vist India twice but I won't be the last, as Americans we believe in India and its dreams of developing the nation. Jai Hind.

11:32 am IST: He shares his experience from his visit to India, and says how the poverty-ridden families are working hard to help their children achieve their dreams.

11:31 am IST: Michelle and I have seen Indians are the most hard working people: Obama

11:30 am IST: India takes pride in people like Milkha Singh, Mary Kom, Kailash Satyarthi, no dearth of talent in India. Young Indians like you will not only shape this nation, but the future of the world: Obama

11:27 am IST: Obama applauds the Nobel Prize recipient Kailash Satyarthi.

11:25 am IST: Referring to the unrest going on in different nations, Obama condemns terrorism in the name of religion. He says every human being must have the right to practice or not practice his or her religion, without the fear of execution.

11:24 am IST: I was proud to see a woman officer commanding the Guard of Honour accorded to me, it shows the strength and power of women.

11:23 am IST: A nation is successful when women there are successful. Where a woman is educated their children are educated: Obama

11:22 am IST: In US we are still working to ensure women get equal opportunitties,in India its the wives&mothers who hold the family together: Obama

11:20 am IST: We live in countries where a grandson of a cook can become President and son of a tea-seller can become PM: Obama

11:19 am IST: Talking about diversity and racial discrimination, Obama says in diverse nation like ours, progress depends on how we see each other. People doing menial jobs in different parts of the country are worthy as others.

11:16 am IST: We'll help India deal with climate change...it is the youth who will face the real impact of the climate change, I'll be gone when worst happens: Obama

11:13 am IST: I support a reformed United Nation Security Council that includes India as a permanent member: Obama

11:10 am IST: Obama says both nations are moving towards using nuclear energy,  which will help produce clean non-carbon energy.

11:09 am IST: US has the the largest Indian diaspora in the world, they tie us together and America will be India's best partner. The world would be a lot safer when our two democracies stand together: Obama

11:08 am IST: Empowered with technology, India's youth are connecting and collaborating like never before, through Facebook and social media: Obama

11:06 am IST: More than a 100 years ago America welcomed a son of India -- Swami Vivekananda. It was he brought Yoga to America: Obama

11:03 am IST: Great honour to be the first US President to attend India's Republic Day. Greeting from people of America. "Bahut Dhanyawad":Obama

10:57 am IST: US President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama arrive at Siri Fort Auditorium.

The United States President Barack Obama will end his three-day India visit on Tuesday with a speech on 'India and America: The future we can build together' at New Delhi's Siri Fort Auditorium.

Obama's visit will conclude with an address set to begin at 10:30 am before at least 2,000 people, including Delhi University students, academics and activists, at the auditorium. During this, Obama, who himself is Nobel Peace Prize recipient, is expected to meet Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi.

His address will be focused on energy and how both Indians and Americans can turn it into positive progress and sort out issues that affect people's lives, according to PTI. 

"The President will want to speak to how do we tap into the energy and the support in both countries for the relationship and turn that into positive progress on the issues that matter in people's lives," Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes said last week.

"When you look at energy, counterterrorism, defense cooperation, efforts to create economic growth, these are things that have a direct bearing on the well-being of US and Indian citizens," Rhodes added. 

The US President will also talk about the diaspora. "There's a large Indian diaspora that has thrived here in the United States. People have long looked at this relationship and seen the fundamentals in place for a really, really close partnership, and yet it's been a challenge in translating that into outcomes," Rhodes noted. 

"We're both very diverse countries, and we both should see our diversity as a strength. So I think the President will speak to the importance of diversity as a democratic value, and the importance of societies drawing on the talents of all of its people - be they religious majorities or minorities, men or women, rich or poor."

Obama's speech on the future bilateral relations between India and America will be followed by a question and answer session.

After taking questions at the Siri Fort, President Obama and US First Lady Michelle Obama will head to Indira Gandhi International Airport in Palam to board their Air Force One plane at around 1:30 pm.

The Obamas have cut their visit short as they are flying to Saudi Arabia to condole the death of King Abdullah and meet his successor King Salman. Obamas had scheduled a visit to Agra to see the historic monument Taj Mahal, which had to be cancelled. 

(Agency: ANI tweets)