Modi breaks protocol to meet Obama at airport

US president makes bid for strategic partnership with premier formerly shunned by Washington

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi signaled his determination to improve relations with the United States by breaking with protocol to meet and give a bear hug to US President Barack Obama as Obama landed in New Delhi on Sunday.

Obama's visit is a fresh bid to make India an enduring strategic partner and will nurture his friendship with a prime minister who a year ago was persona non grata in Washington.