Obama ‘breaks’ American, Indian traditions at R-Day function

Obama broke the Secret Service security protocol and spent over two hours in the open as the Chief Guest of India’s 66th Republic Day celebrations.

US President Barack Obama waves as he, along with First Lady Michelle Obama, President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi leave after the 66th Republic Day parade at Rajpath in New Delhi on Monday.

US President Barack Obama on Monday broke the Secret Service’s sacred security protocol by remaining in the open for more than two hours when he graced the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi as the Chief Guest.

He also departed from the tradition of accompanying the President of India and preferred to be driven to the venue in his own multi—layered bulletproof car ‘The Beast’.

Obama spent over two hours in the open as the Chief Guest of India’s 66th Republic Day celebrations.

The security guidelines of Secret Service, the exclusive agency responsible for an American President’s security, mandate that he does not spend more than 45 minutes at any open-air venue.

According to American media reports, the US President has never been on an outdoor event for more than 40 minutes.

He also reached the parade venue in his own car. President Pranab Mukherjee arrived separately at the venue shortly after.

U.S. President Barack Obama arrived for the Republic Day function in his own multi-layered bulletproof car ‘The Beast’. Photo: PTI

The move is seen as a departure from tradition, as it is customary for chief guests to arrive and depart with the Indian President in his car from Rashtrapati Bhavan.