In his address to US Congress, Modi — the only Indian PM to do so twice — called US one of most important defence partners and highlighted how Ukraine war affected developing countries.
From counter-terrorism, diversifying supply chains and a joke about the growing number of Indian-origin politicians in the US to veiled references about China and debt traps, Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched on a range of topics during his second address to the US Congress Friday.
The last time Modi addressed the US Congress was in 2016 during the then Obama administration. He is the only Indian PM to have done so twice.
In his hour-long address to US lawmakers at a joint session of the US Congress, Modi called the US one of India’s most important defence partners and also highlighted how the Ukraine war has affected the developing countries.
The Prime Minister also commented on the growing Indian diaspora in the US, including a number of Indian-origin members in the Congress. “I am told that the Samosa Caucus is now the flavour of the House,” he joked, and also took note of Indian-origin US Vice President Kamala Harris “who has made history” as the first woman of colour to hold the position.
These remarks came two days after over 70 politicians, led by US Representative Pramila Jaypal, who is of Indian origin, urged US President Joe Biden through a letter to discuss the importance of protecting human rights and democratic values in India during his talks with Modi.
However, Jaypal was seen giving the Prime Minister a standing ovation after his address.
During a press conference Thursday, Biden had confirmed that the issue of human rights was raised during talks and added that democracy is the “DNA” of both nations. Meanwhile, PM Modi denied that religious discrimination exists in India.
