Elisha Pulivarti from Washington DC
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first ever state visit to the US from June 21- to 24 seeing hype building around it. Though this is PM Modi’s 6th visit to the US, this is the first one as the state visit. He is the third Indian leader to get this honour. Earlier, Former President Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan paid state to the US in 1963 and former PM Dr Manmohan Singh got this privilege in 2008.
Interestingly, PM Modi by addressing the joint session of US congress on June 22, will enter American history by being the 5th leader to address it for more than once. Earlier, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill – three times, South African leader Nelson Mandela – two times, Israeli PMs Benjamin Netanyahu and Yitzhak Shamir – three times each -are in the list.
State Dinner
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will receive PM Modi on June 22 at White House, in a ceremonial reception. A select gathering of people from a cross section of American society are invited for this. Later, Biden couple will host a state dinner on the North Lawns of White House.
Earlier, they wanted to host the dinner at South Lawns, but to accommodate a bigger gathering they shifted it to North Lawns. A lavish spread of alcohol and a variety of cuisine will be served in the dinner, though Modi is a teetotaler and vegetarian.
Address to US congress
Before proceeding to state dinner, PM Modi will address the joint session of US congress. This address was planned by both House majority Republicans and Democrats. This bipartisan invitation signifies importance of India in the changed global scenario. The US wants to balance China with resurgent India in more ways than one.
PM Modi will also address two or three meetings of Indian diaspora during his visit. One is planned on June 23 by US India Business Council. The PM will also participate in an event of International Yoga Day at UN premises on June 21.
As this visit is full of tight agenda and some business agreements, trade and industry leaders from both the countries are eagerly waiting for it. Later, PM Modi will host Biden in Delhi in September second week for G-20 summit.
(Elisha Pulivarti is CEO of US -India SME Council and writes regularly for Excel India from Washington DC)
