Obama to address House in November

US President Barack Obama will address a joint session of Parliament on November 9 when he visits India this winter,an honour that eluded his predecessor George W Bush in 2006 because of strong protests by Left parties in the backdrop of the war in Iraq.

Preparing for the red carpet welcome to Obama,the government will advance the winter session of Parliament so that he can address it,UPA sources said. The winter session normally begins in the second week of November,but will be held in the first week this year,in time for Obamas November 7 visit.

Bush was denied the pleasure of speaking to parliamentarians after the Left threatened to boycott the session to protest the Iraq war,punctuating the tradition of powerful prime ministers and presidents addressing the Parliament. His predecessor,Bill Clinton was accorded the honour when he visited in 2000. Japanese PM Shinzo Abe too addressed the Parliament in 2007.