A wall is being constructed in Ahmedabad ahead of US President Donald Trump's state visit. (Photo Credit: Reuters)
New Delhi:
US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump are scheduled to visit India on February 24. Ahead of their two-day state visit, Indian government is leaving no stones unturned to welcome the US President. The Indian authorities are building a wall reportedly to hide the country’s poverty and shield Trump and his wife from the sight of slums when they visit Ahmedabad.
According to news agency Reuters, locals seemed angry at the step even as their businesses were shut down due to the construction of the wall. The officials, however, claimed that the wall was being built for security reasons and not to hide the poverty of the country.
"The government should spend in a way that it is beneficial for the poor. What is the point of spending thousands of rupees here in building a wall and hiring workers? We are poor people and we used to have business near here which is shut down (due to wall construction)," Reuters quoted a slum-dweller as saying.
Also Read | India Offers US Dairy, Chicken Access In Bid For Elusive Trade Deal With Trump
Trump, who has vowed to build a wall along the United States border with Maxico, will visit India on February 24-25 to reaffirm bilateral ties with India that have been pounded by trade disputes.
This will be Trump’s first state visit to as the US President to the world’s largest democracy. The visit is seen as an effort by both countries to reach a limited trade pact with lower tariffs. He is also scheduled to attend an event "Kem Chho Trump" ("How are you, Trump") along the lines of "Howdy Modi" spectacular hosted for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Houston last September.
