Indian PM Narendra Modi is expected to hold a joint press conference with US President Joe Biden, a rare event for the Indian PM who has not addressed a single press conference in India since assuming office about nine years ago.
Modi will also address a joint session of the US Congress on the second day of his US visit. With his address to the Congress, Modi would become the first Indian PM to be accorded this honour twice.
#ModiUSVisit2023 | The Indian authorities had initially objected to the White House’s proposal that Modi and Biden hold a joint press conference, two unidentified US officials told CNN.
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Modi-Biden Joint Press Conference
Amid pressures from fellow democrats to raise human rights issues with the Indian PM, Biden will host a joint press conference with the Indian PM.
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby called the press conference a “big deal” and said, “We’re just grateful that Prime Minister Modi is going to be participating in a press event at the end of the visit. We think that’s important and we’re glad that he thinks that’s important too.”
The conference will be tightly controlled and include limited questions, which is unusual for Modi, whose last press conference took place in 2019, in which he did not take any questions.
According to CNN, India had initially objected to White House’s proposal for the press event.
The event for the conference will allow only one question from the US press and one from an Indian journalist, a deviation from the usual practice of taking questions from two reporters on each side.
Human Rights Controversy During Modi’s Visit
While elaborate preparations are being made for the PM’s address to a joint session of the US Senate and House, several Democrat politicians have announced a boycott of the address citing human rights violations by the Modi government.
Congresswomen Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Cori Bush and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are among those boycotting the address.
Bernie Sanders also requested Biden to raise the issue of religious minorities with the Indian PM. Furthermore, as many as 75 Democratic senators and members of the House of Representatives have sent a letter to US President Joe Biden, asking him to raise human rights issues with PM Modi.
#ModiUSVisit2023 | PM @narendramodi receives a ceremonial welcome on his arrival in #WashingtonDC
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PM Modi to hold high-level talks with US President @JoeBiden, will address a joint sitting of the US Congress on June 22 and attend State dinner hosted by US President and First… pic.twitter.com/KM9SK6kbW5
Second Congress Address
Ahead of the Indian PM’s visit to the US, Congress leaders had extended an invitation to Modi to share his vision for India’s future and speak to the global challenges faced by India and the US.
Once denied a visa for “severe violations of religious freedom,” Modi will now join an elite cohort of people who have addressed the US Congress more than once. The list includes former British PM Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, former Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Previously, former Indian PMs Manmohan Singh, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, PV Narasimha Rao, Rajiv Gandhi, and Jawaharlal Nehru have had the honour of addressing the US Congress. Modi also addressed the US Congress in 2016, during former US President Barak Obama’s last year in office.
The PM’s address will be a remarkable event in the history of India-US relations as his state visit takes the countries to newer heights.
In his special address, Modi is expected to speak on the mutual concerns of India and the US, and the latest deals between the two countries finalised due to his visit.