Washington, Nov 24 US President Barack Obama on Tuesday welcomed Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at the White House, and said that it is fitting that the Indian Prime Minister should be the first State visitor of his administration.

President Obama said the US and India share the bold experiment of becoming democracies after rule being under colonial power and today both know the pain of international terrorism.

Obama recalled it was 60 years ago that President Harry Truman welcomed to the White House the first Prime Minister of newly independent India.

He spoke Tuesday in an elaborate welcoming ceremony in the White House East Room.

Earlier, the White House welcome ceremony for Dr. Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur has been shifted indoors due to continuous rains here. The gun salute has also been cancelled.

The welcome ceremony has been shifted from the South Lawn to the East Room inside the White House.

The East Room can accommodate a much smaller capacity as compared to the South Lawn that can accommodate over 400 people, which result in a very restricted ceremony for the Indian Prime Minister.

Many Indian American leaders and activists who had travelled from all parts of the country to witness the historic ceremony would now have to stay out of East Room. (ANI)