New Delhi: Former US president Barack Obama met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here today.   This is the first meeting between the two leaders after Obama left the White House in January.   

"It was a pleasure to meet, once again, former president @BarackObama, and learn about the new initiatives being taken forward under his leadership at the @ObamaFoundation and his perspectives on further strengthening India-US strategic partnership," Modi tweeted.   Obama, who arrived in Delhi yesterday, addressed a summit organised by a media house earlier in the day.   

At the summit, the former president said India needed to cherish and nurture its Muslim population that is integrated and considers itself Indian.   It is an idea that needs to be reinforced, said Obama whose last visit to India was in January 2015.   

He was the first US president to take part as the chief guest in the Republic Day celebrations.   Obama was the first US president to visit India twice during his time in office. He had earlier visited in 2010 when Manmohan Singh was the prime minister. PTI