'Barack and Myself,' Says PM Modi. POTUS Sticks to 'Modi'

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke about his friendship with US president Barack Obama and referred to him by first name more than once during a joint briefing. President Obama stuck to the less informal "Modi" and "Prime Minister."

"Barack and I have formed a bond, a friendship. There is openness when we talk on the phone and we also crack jokes... This chemistry has brought Barack closer to me but also brought the people of India and America closer," PM Modi said in the briefing at Hyderabad House.

"I'm fairly new in this area but relations between countries depends less on full stops and commas and more on the chemistry between them. Barack and I have forged a friendship. There is openness when we talk," he added.

Earlier, he also talked about the need to have a hotline between "myself and Barack."

President Obama, who is known to call British prime minister David Cameron "Bro", referred to the prime minister as "Modi," as he joked about comparing notes on how much sleep they both get.

"It turns out Modi is getting much less sleep than me. Of course, that is because he is still new. After he has been doing it for about six years, maybe he will be able to get an extra hour," he said, drawing a chuckle from PM Modi.

PM Modi and President Obama took a stroll in the lawns of Hyderabad House and chatted over tea during the discussions between their delegations.

After the joint statement, the two leaders hugged for the second time today.

PM Modi this morning broke protocol and went to the airport to receive President Obama, who is the chief guest for India's Republic Day celebrations tomorrow. The two leaders greeted each other then with a bear hug.