NEW DELHI – U.S. President Barack Obama, said on Tuesday in New Delhi, during his final speech of a three-day trip to India, that respect and dignity for Indian women are major key to success.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
He told an audience of 2,000 people, that included Nobel peace laureate Kailash Satyarthi, that the world would be strongest when we uphold the dignity of all, including our women.
“Every woman should be able to go about her day, walk the street, ride the bus and be safe and be treated with the respect and dignity that she deserves,” he said.
Obama said husbands, fathers and brothers needed to step up, to ensure that women were treated equally and got equal opportunities in all aspects of life.
“We know nations are more successful when women are more successful,” he said.
Obama said he was impressed by the many women leaders he met during his trip, as well as the marching contingents of women from the armed forces he saw during the Republic Day parade on Monday.
He also commended the female commander of the guard that greeted him on his arrival in India.
The President commended India for lifting millions from poverty and India and U.S. provided people with opportunities.
“We live in countries where a grandson of a cook can become president and son of a tea-seller can become prime minister,” he said.
“The U.S. wanted to be India’s partner in fighting poverty, combating climate change and in deepening defence cooperation to meet new challenges among other areas,he said.
Obama’s visit saw a breakthrough on a long in the doldrums civilian nuclear deal with U.S. companies being offered pool insurance to cover big damages.
Obama the first U.S. president to attend India’s Republic Day parade, was accompanied by his wife Michelle and a host of top officials. (dpa/NAN)