![]() ![]() "The question of where politics and the question of democratic institutions go in India is going to be determined within India by Indians," Sullivan said. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the president intended to raise his concerns but avoid lecturing the prime minister. Biden said at the start of his Oval Office meeting with Modi that he wanted the partnership to be "grounded on democracy, human rights, freedom and the rule of law." The U.S.-India relationship will be vital in coming decades as both sides navigate an ascendant China and the enormity of climate change, artificial intelligence, supply chain resilience and other issues. lawmakers are questioning the Democratic president's decision to offer the high honor to a leader whose nine-year tenure over the world's biggest democracy has seen a backslide in political, religious and press freedoms.īiden administration officials say honoring Modi, the leader of the conservative Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, is Diplomacy 101. ![]() Biden fetes Modi, human rights advocates and some U.S. Since I've become president, we've continued to build a relationship built on mutual trust, candor and respect."īut as Mr. Biden said he believes the U.S.-India relationship "will be one of the defining relationships of the 21st century. I'm confident that working together will be successful."Īt the earlier welcoming ceremony, Mr. "I believe that our strategic partnership is important. "All eyes are on the two largest democracies in the world, India and America," Modi said as the leaders met in the Oval Office. As Modi arrived, the crowd - including many members of the Indian diaspora - broke out in a chant of "Modi, Modi, Modi." Thousands gathered on the White House South Lawn for the welcoming ceremony, listening to performances by violinist Vibha Janakiraman and the a cappella group Penn Masala. ![]() Biden and Modi devoted the state visit to launching new partnerships in defense, semiconductor manufacturing and more sectors as they look to strengthen their countries' crucial - albeit complicated - relationship. That is why, in India's democratic values, there is absolutely no discrimination, either on basis of caste, creed, age or any kind of geographic location." President Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold a joint press conference at the White House on Jin Washington, D.C.ĪNDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images "And that is why when you say democracy and you accept democracy and when we live democracy, then there is absolutely no space for discrimination. "When you talk of democracy, if there are no human values and there is no humanity, there are no human rights, then it's not a democracy," Modi said, through a translator. A Wall Street Journal reporter asked Modi what steps he and his government are willing to take to improve the rights of Muslims and other minorities and to uphold free speech. "We want people everywhere to have the opportunity to live in dignity."Ī question about his handling of human rights was the first Modi took from a journalist in a press conference since he became prime minister in 2014. Biden also emphasized the importance of press and religious freedoms. ![]() and India "among the most consequential in the world" and "stronger, closer and more dynamic than at any time in history." He underscored how two of the world's most powerful democracies were cooperating on issues such as the climate, health care and space, saying that the U.S-India economic relationship was "booming."īut standing alongside Modi, who has come under criticism from human rights advocates, Mr. Biden called the relationship between the U.S. Washington - President Biden emphasized the power of democracies on Thursday as he hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House, boasting of the collaborations between the two nations on "nearly every human endeavor" while stressing that universal human rights remain vital to the success of both the U.S. ![]()
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