Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s State visit and the reception given by the White House and US Congress reflects the highest expression of friendly bilateral ties between India and US
Our Bureau
Washington, DC
In a major tribute to the Indian Americans in the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that they have played a significant role in further strengthening the inclusive society and economy of the US. During his speech at the State Dinner held at the White House, Modi said, “Indian Americans have come a long way in the US and have always found a respectful place in America’s Melting Pot. Indian Americans have played a significant role in further strengthening the inclusive society and economy of the US.”
He also thanked US President Joe Biden for hosting a wonderful dinner and making the visit successful. “I want to thank US President Joe Biden for this wonderful dinner today. I would also like to thank First Lady Jill Biden for taking care of my visit to make it successful. Yesterday evening you opened the doors of your house for me,” PM Modi said.
PM Modi also said that the State dinner evening has become quite special by the presence of the people of the two countries, as he called them “most precious assets.”
“This evening is made special by the presence of the people of our two countries, they are our most precious assets. When we met in Japan, for the Quad Summit, you mentioned a problem that you were facing, I am sure that you must have resolved that problem. I hope you were able to fit in everyone who wanted to come for the dinner tonight,” PM Modi added.
Further Prime Minister Narendra Modi requested President Biden to join him for a toast as the two leaders addressed the State dinner event at the White House. Modi said, “There is one more thing left to do tonight- please join me in raising a toast. A toast to our wonderful hosts, President Biden and Jill Biden.”
“A toast to good health, prosperity and the pursuit of happiness, liberty, equality and to the ever-lasting bonds of friendship between India and the United States,” he said.
Previously, US President Joe Biden expressed his delight in hosting Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the official State dinner at the White House and emphasized that the occasion celebrates great bonds of friendship between India and the United States.
In a special address during the State Dinner at the White House, Biden said, “Jill and I have had a wonderful time with the Prime Minster today, during your truly productive visit. Tonight, we celebrate the great bonds of friendship between India and the United States.”
Earlier, US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House for the State dinner. Amongst the US officials who arrived at the White House for the State Dinner was the US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti.
US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy also arrived at the White House for the event and said that India and US have a very strong relationship. Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra, Chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries Mukesh Ambani and wife Nita Ambani were amongst the Indian business tycoons who arrived at the White House for the State Dinner.
Furthermore, Indra Nooyi, former Chairperson and CEO of PepsiCo also reached the White House for the State Dinner. Several CEOs were also among the invitees to the State dinner. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Google CEO Sundar Pichai were in attendance. Zerodha Co-Founder Nikhil Kamath was also on the guest list, amongst many.
A ‘state visit’ holds a special significance as compared to other foreign visits, as this is a formal visit by the head of state to a foreign country at the invitation of the head of state hosting him. The visit signifies the highest expression of friendly bilateral ties between two sovereign nations. Also, during a State visit, the leader extending the invitation acts as the official host of the visiting head of state through the course of the trip.
A ‘state visit’ holds a special significance as compared to other foreign visits, as this is a formal visit by the head of state to a foreign country at the invitation of the head of state hosting him.
The visit signifies the highest expression of friendly bilateral ties between two sovereign nations. Also, during a State visit, the leader extending the invitation acts as the official host of the visiting head of state through the course of the trip.
PM Modi first visited the US in 2014, on a working visit. This visit was significant as he also delivered his maiden speech at the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
He visited the US again in 2016, for the Nuclear Security Summit. During this visit, he also met then-US President Barack Obama at the White House and held bilateral talks.
In the same year, PM Modi embarked on another visit to the US. During this visit, he delivered his maiden address at the US Congress and spoke on a range of topics including terrorism, climate change and the strong Indo-US relationship.
In 2017, PM Modi went to the US on a three-day visit. He was hosted by the then President Donald Trump at the White House for a ‘working dinner’. During this visit, Prime Minister Modi also addressed the Indian diaspora at the Ritz Carlton in Tysons Corner, Virginia.
His visit in 2019 was one of his most significant, as he addressed the Indian-American community in Houston at an event named ‘Howdy Modi!’ The event was attended by 50,000 people and also addressed by then-President Donald Trump, who later held bilateral talks with PM Modi.
While POTUS (code name for the US president) is hosting his third State guest, it is the largest so far, considering the sheer numbers on the South Lawns of the White House to welcome PM Modi on Thursday.
Earlier, Modi on Thursday highlighted “India’s unity in diversity,” at the historic address to the joint sitting of the US Congress. “India is the home to all faiths in the world and we celebrate all of them. In India, diversity is a natural way of life, today the world wants to know more and more about India,” said PM Modi. Speaking about Indian diversity, he said, “We have over 2500 political parties…About 20 different parties govern various states of India. We have 22 official languages and thousands of dialects, yet we speak in one voice. Every 100 miles our cuisine changes, from dosa to aloo paratha.”
He said that today, the world wants to know more and more about India. “I see that curiosity in this house, too. We were honored to receive around 100 members of the US Congress over the last decade. Everyone wants to understand India’s development, democracy and diversity,” said Modi.
He arrived at the US House of Representatives, where he addressed the joint session of the US Congress shortly.
PM Modi said that it is always a great honor to address the US Congress.
“It is an exceptional privilege to do so twice. For this honor, I extend my deepest gratitude to the 1.4 billion people of India. I see that nearly half of you were here in 2016. I can also see the enthusiasm of the old friends and the new friends in the other half,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He said that our era is at a crossroads and he is speaking about the calling for this century. “Standing here seven Junes ago, when Hamilton swept all the awards, I said that the hesitations of history were behind us. Now, when our era is at a crossroads, I am here to speak about our calling for this century,” he said.
Modi further highlighted many advances made in AI- Artificial Intelligence. “In the past few years, there have been many advances in AI- Artificial Intelligence. At the same time, there has been even more momentous development in another AI- America and India,” he added.
Modi further related battles of patience, persuasion and policy. “I can relate to the battles of patience, persuasion and policy. I can understand the debate of ideas and ideology. But I am delighted to see you come together to celebrate the bonds between two great democracies – India and the United States,” said PM Modi.
Speaking about the active participation of Indian-Americans in US politics, he told that the “Samosa Caucus is the flavor of the house,” referring to US Vice President Kamala Harris. “The foundation of America was inspired by the vision of a nation of equal people…There are millions here who have roots in India, some of them sit proudly in this chamber and there is one behind me. There is one behind me (Kamala Harris) who has made history,” he said.
The prime minister said that democracy is one of our sacred and shared values. It has evolved over a long time and taken various forms of system.
“Democracy is one of our sacred and shared values. Throughout history, one thing has been clear, democracy is the spirit that supports equality and dignity. Democracy is the idea that welcomes debate and discourse. Democracy is the culture that gives wings to thought and expression. India is blessed to have such values from time immemorial. India is the mother of democracy,” said PM Modi.
He said that India and US have made the test of friendship through the long and widening road that both countries have travelled.
“A lot has changed since I came here 7 summers ago. However, a lot has remained the same, like our commitment to deepen the friendship between India and the US,” said PM Modi.
“Last year India celebrated 75 years of independence. Every milestone is important but this one was special. We celebrated a remarkable journey of our 75 years of freedom after thousand years of foreign rule in one form or another. This was not just a celebration of democracy but also of diversity,” he added.
PM Modi further stated that the US is the oldest and India is the largest democracy. “Our partnership augurs well for the future of democracy. Together, we shall give a better future to the world and a better world to the future,” he said.
PM Modi also highlighted India’s sturdy economic journey. He said, “When I first visited the US as the PM, India was the 10th largest economy in the world. Today, India is the 5th largest economy. And India will be the third-largest economy soon….When India grows the whole world grows.”
“Our vision is Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayaas. It means, together for everyone’s growth, with everyone’s trust and everyone’s effort. Let me share with you how this vision is translating into action with scale and speed,” added PM Modi.
Also noting that India and the US have democracy in their DNA, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said there is no question of discrimination on the grounds of caste, creed or religion and his government works by the mantra of ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas, sabka prayaas’.
Responding to a question during a joint press conference with US President Joe Biden, PM Modi said democracy is India’s spirit, in the veins of its people and they live democracy in their daily lives. “We are a democracy and as President Biden said India and America both have democracy in our DNA. Democracy is in our spirit and we live it and it’s written in our Constitution…So no question of discrimination on the grounds of caste, creed or religion arises,” PM Modi said when asked about measures the government is willing to take to improve the rights of minorities in the country.
PM Modi said that the government works according to the constitution formulated on the basis of basic democratic values.
“Democracy is our spirit, it is in our veins, we live democracy and our ancestors gave it the shape of the Constitution. Our government works according to the Constitution. We have proved that democracy can deliver,” PM Modi said.
“When I say democracy can deliver, there is no scope of discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, religion, gender. When we talk of democracy, if there are no human values, no humanity, no human rights, then it is not democracy. And when you talk of democracy, accept democracy and when we live democracy, there is no scope of discrimination. We go by the principles of ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas, sabka prayaas’ . There is access for all to benefits provided by the government. There is no discrimination in India’s democratic values on the basis of religion, caste, age, geography,” he added.
Answering a question related to the environmental protection, he said as far as India is concerned, the environment and climate “have an essential place in our culture and tradition”.
The Prime Minister said India is the only G20 country in the world that kept the promise it took in Paris to protect the environment. “Environment is an article of faith for us. We do not believe in the exploitation of nature. India not only works to protect its own environment but also works for protecting the world. We are taking global initiatives for the same. India is the only G20 country in the world that kept the promise it took in Paris to protect the environment,” he said.
“We have launched an international solar alliance for the world and today several countries in the world are working with us. We are seeing that due to natural calamities, there is a huge loss to the infrastructure. We care about our future generations, so we are taking a global responsibility to support the world in the crisis of climate change,” he added.
Overall, on a busy day with some top engagements, Modi made a big impression and made it clear that the relations between India and US are taking a giant leap forward.
