Just a couple of days before US President Donald Trump’s visit to India, confusion prevails over whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi will accompany the Trumps during their visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra on Monday. Contrary versions emerged from the Indian and American sides on Saturday with sources in New Delhi saying Modi accompanying the Trump family to Agra is unlikely and reports attributing US officials stating otherwise.

The Government sources said Modi will not accompany the US President and First Lady Melania Trump to see the Taj Mahal in Agra.

The US President, his wife, daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner along with a large US delegation, are coming to India on a two-day visit on Monday.

The Indian side’s reaction came after a senior US administration official, during a conference call with journalists, said, “The President will arrive in India, in Ahmedabad... The President and the First Lady will then go with Prime Minister Modi to visit the Taj, in Agra. They will then fly to New Delhi and rest overnight in New Delhi, and have a full program on Tuesday.”

Denying this, sources said here, “We have seen media reports regarding PM Modi’s presence in Agra in connection with the visit of President Trump. The visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra by the US President and the First Lady will afford them the opportunity to view the historical monument suitably. Therefore, no official engagements or presence of senior dignitaries from the Indian side is envisaged there.”

Modi will be with Trump in Ahmedabad, where a public reception will be accorded to Trump and the US First Lady on February 24, and in the Delhi leg of the visit where official engagements are envisaged on February 25,” they said.  Modi and Trump will go on a roadshow to the world’s largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad’s Motera.

Among the many welcome gestures for the guests, a ‘Trump platter,’ comprising signature dishes from ITC Maurya’s restaurant Bukhara here with a little customisation, is likely to be laid out for the visiting dignitary,  sources said.  The Bukhara restaurant, which has hosted several heads of States, including former US presidents, has not altered its menu for the last 41 years.

Like his predecessors, Trump is likely to dine at the iconic restaurant. It will be customised according to his taste, they said.  The hotel, however, has not revealed anything about the arrangements made for Trump, including the food.

Barack Obama had visited India twice in 2010 and 2015 as the President and he was served the ‘Obama platter’. Since then, the dish has become a part of the menu and is also very popular among the guests. The Obama platter consists of tandoori jhinga, machhli tikka, murg boti Bukhara and kebabs.

When Bill Clinton had visited Bukhara as the president, the hotel had introduced “Clinton platter” and “Chelsea platter.” Bukhara’s dishes are mainly tandoor-based and has an assortment of kebabs, the signature ‘Dal Bukhara’ and breads like ‘Khasta Roti’, ‘Bharwan Kulcha’. 

Trump is also likely to be gifted an apron with a painting of MF Husain.  Legend has it that Husain was so impressed with Bukhara that he painted his trademark horse on his canvas while having food at the restaurant.

This trademark horse has been replicated on the aprons that are given as mementos to the guests. These aprons will also be presented to the Trumps, the sources said.

When Obama had stayed at the ITC Maurya in 2015, he was served food from the hotel’s roof top European restaurant WestView where he dined with top CEOs from India and US on January 26. The dinner was hosted at the Grand Presidential Floor.  First Lady Michelle Obama chose to experience the famed Bukhara cuisine and had a private dinner with select members.