House arrest for all when Obama visits

A Mumbai hotel is shutting its doors to other guests as it readies to receive Barack Obama, Indian media reported.

The US President is staying at the hotel on November 6 and 7, as part of a state visit to India. It has hosted other heads of state such as Queen Elizabeth II, but when Obama visits, the entire hotel turns into an offsite White House, say reports. Apart from the 12-room presidential suite, three satellites ensure his staff can operate exactly the way as it does in Washington. And a whopping 50 people will be working round the clock in a ‘cabinet room’, briefing room and a special control room.

But with all 570 rooms booked out by Obama, hotel staff will be under virtual house arrest. Worse, they can’t keep their mobile phones with them. “In case of an emergency, they can use a secured phone line, which will be under round-the-clock surveillance for obvious reasons,” a source in the hotel’s security team told the DNA newspaper.

“Only 10 per cent of the staff will be present at the hotel on November 6 and 7. The rest have been given leave,” he said. A source close to the hotel’s management said that even among the 10 per cent staff, only a core team of 125 will serve the Obamas. “Security is so tight that apart from personnel directly responsible for Obama, no one, not even members of the presidential delegation, will be allowed on the president’s floor. The rooms adjacent, above and below the presidential suit will be occupied by FBI agents – 700 of whom will accompany the Obamas,” the source said.

Over a tonne of food and equipment has already arrived and chefs are working overtime to ensure that the Obamas get to sample Indian specialities.

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