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India: Obama Can’t Visit Chabad House

MUMBAI — The Maharashtra home department has said a firm no to US President Barack Obama’s proposed visit to the erstwhile Chabad House — one of the places targeted during the 26/11 attacks.

A senior home department official said, “The US President wanted to visit sites in Mumbai that were attacked by terrorists. But we feel that it would be a great security risk if he goes to Nariman House, which is in a crowded area. We have conveyed this clearly to the US authorities. At the same time, he will visit Hotel Trident and, possibly, CST station, which too were the gumnen’s targets.” Sources in the government said Obama was also likely to visit Mani Bhavan.

Senior police officials said that even the Israel government felt the location was too much of risk. “The Jewish religious centre has now shifted to a building opposite Mantralaya,” a senior official said.

Meanwhile, the US consulate spokesperson did not wish to comment. She said that the president’s schedule was yet to be finalized.

Policemen will be deployed along the slums dotting the flight path from Ghatkopar to the airport to ensure that there is no bursting of crackers. Obama will arrive in the city on November 6 and stay at the Taj Hotel.

“There are several slums which dot the area where flights land. Each year, the senior inspector of Saki Naka police and his staff patrol the stretch and take action against people who light crackers which soar high. Normally, when a VVIP arrives, we deploy policemen in the Jari Mari area of the Kurla-Andheri road. In this case, we have to station our policemen right along the cluster of slums at Ghatkopar and ensure that the locals don’t light rockets or high-flying crackers when Air Force One arrives,” said the police officer.

The home department also plans to cancel the leave of policemen during Diwali in view of the festival bandobast as well as Obama’s visit.

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Times of India

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10 Comments

  • anonymous

    to jewda, shluchim have the rebbe on their side, and go with mesirus nefesh, no matter what. unfortunately, i don’t think obama can claim that distinction. i think it’s unfortunate that the president can’t visit nariman house, it would be such an amazing PR boost to chabad,

  • go-d-s right hand man

    india isn’t that good of a place to be,
    it seems to be a great place to be from

  • The Holtzberg Legacy

    isn’t it for the reason that the Holtzberg’s are rebuilding??? how can he come when their is 30 workers on ground???

  • cc

    we dont need him to visit. It would make Jews feel better towards him and he doesnt deserve that

  • R. Gould

    Why you would want an anti-Semite such as Hussein Obama to come into your Chabad House. He clearly represents the side of the terrorist who murdered Jews, just because they are Jews. Obama should be kept as far away as possible and may he celebrate the upcoming Purim Holiday as the Czar did many years ago

  • Chaim Tovim

    Thank G-d that abomination won’t be stepping foot in a Chabad House, soiling it with his socialist, anti-Israel, left wing America-destroying presence…

  • NObama

    We do NOT want Obama to use Nariman House as a photo op for the campaigns of those who support his rishus.

    Obama should not be let anywhere near the site of the churban.

  • wow

    It’s about time someone told the President “no”. Israel should learn from this.