Prime Minister Narendra Modi Archives - Page 38 of 75 - Lokmarg

Modi Lands In Cairo For First State Visit To Egypt

By LokMarg 24th June 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Egypt’s capital Cairo for the first state visit on the second leg of his two-nation tour.

PM Modi arrived in Cairo for after wrapping up a “successful visit to the US.”
The visit is at the invitation of Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of Egypt, which he extended to PM Modi in January when he attended the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi as chief guest.

This is PM Modi’s first visit to Egypt as Prime Minister and the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister after 26 years.

Upon arriving in Cairo, PM Modi was greeted with a ceremonial welcome and guard of honour and in a special honour was received by his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly at the airport.

PM Modi will also inspect a guard of honour on his arrival.

During his two-day June 24 to 25 State visit, he will hold a roundtable meeting with the Egyptian PM and also meet President El-Sisi.

Later on, PM Modi will interact with the Indian community.

PM Modi is scheduled to meet the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Dr Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam, today and will also interact with Egyptian thought leaders.

On Sunday, PM Modi will visit Al-Hakim Mosque. The Prime Minister will spend nearly half an hour at the Al-Hakim Mosque– a historic and prominent mosque in Cairo named after Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (985-1021), the 16th Fatimid caliph.

During his Egypt tour, PM Modi will also visit the Heliopolis War Grave cemetery to pay tribute to the Indian soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice fighting for Egypt during the First World War.

The visit is of significance as Egypt has traditionally been one of India’s most important trading partners in the African continent. India-Egypt Bilateral Trade Agreement has been in operation since March 1978 and is based on the Most Favored Nation clause, according to the Egyptian Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).

Furthermore, India and Egypt share a close political understanding based on a long history of contact and cooperation in bilateral, regional and global issues.

Meanwhile, in the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended various events and met top Indian and American CEOs including Tesla CEO Elon Musk. He received a ceremonial welcome and guard of honour at the White House upon his arrival.

He was hosted by US President Joe Biden as well as First Lady Jill Biden for a state dinner at the White House, as well as a State Luncheon by the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and US Vice President Kamala Harris. (ANI)

Procurement Of Drones Will Strengthen India’s Aerospace, Defence Ecosystems

By LokMarg 24th June 2023

Baba Kalyani, Chairman and MD of Bharat Forge Limited and founding president of the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers has hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden for emphasising on co-production of critical systems and platforms “identifying avenues for joint research and development in advanced technologies.”

Kalyani termed the PM Modi’s US visit, a reflection of “strengthening engagement between two great and large democracies.”
He said, “Historic state visit being accorded to PM Modi by US President Joe Biden is reflective of strengthening engagement between two great and large democracies, to scale up the Indian market and its requirements, combined with our overlapping strategic interest, create both an opportunity and imperative for businesses on either side…to expand bilateral trade & commerce, to strengthen engagement including strategic sectors such as defence, space, 5G, semi-conductor amongst others and collaborate to co-develop critical and emerging technologies.”

The Indian billionaire businessman also thanked PM Modi and President Biden for “placing special emphasis on promoting industry, start-ups and academia linkages on either side encouraging co-development and coproduction of critical systems and platforms identifying avenues for joint research and development in advanced technologies.”

He also welcomed the news around the manufacturing and assembling of the General Electric-F414 engine for LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) and also the phased procurement of General Atomics Predator MQ -9 Reaper guardian Drones.

“I believe these programs will go a long way in strengthening the aerospace and defence ecosystems in India,” he said.

Such important discussions that have taken place in Washington, will help the Indian industry and Indian defence industry to get into the supply chain of the US defence sector, he added.

Chairman and MD of Bharat Forge also hailed the discussions on green initiatives, strategic clean energy partnership.

“There’s a new task force that is going to be set up through SCEP (Simple Certificate Enrollment Protocol) launch of the US India New and Emerging Renewable Energy Technologies Action Platform, which will accelerate cooperation, green hydrogen, offshore and onshore wind, amongst other technologies,” he said.

Kalyani also noted that PM Modi’s US visit has “created a position for India on the high table of global commerce.”

He also said that the relationship between the legal relationship between India and the United States is going to be of great benefit to the Indian economy and to the Indian industry.

Earlier on Friday, PM Modi said that the decision of General Electric Company (GE) to manufacture fighter planes in India will prove to be a milestone for India’s defence sector, as both nations are taking strong steps towards a better future through their cooperation.

During his address to the Indian diaspora at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC, PM Modi said, “In these 3 days, a new and glorious journey of India and the US relations has begun. This new journey is of our convergence on global strategic issues, of our cooperation for Make in India Make for the World.”

In a major announcement coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States, GE Aerospace on Thursday announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to produce fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force.

The agreement includes the potential joint production of GE Aerospace’s F414 engines in India.

GE Aerospace said in a release that it continues to work with the US government to receive the necessary export authorization for this. The effort is part of the Indian Air Force’s Light Combat Aircraft Mk2 programme.

The US company said that the MoU with HAL to produce fighter jet engines for IAF is a major milestone amidst PM Modi’s official state visit to the United States and a key element in strengthening defence cooperation between the two countries.

The announcement about the MoU came ahead of PM Modi’s bilateral talks with US President Joe Biden on Thursday. (ANI)

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US Govt Has Decided To Return, Stolen Antiquities Of India: Modi

By LokMarg 24th June 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a cheerful Indian diaspora at the Ronald Reagan Center and expressed happiness over the American government’s decision to return more than 100 stolen antiquities back to India.

PM Modi on the last day of his maiden US State visit interacted with the Indian diaspora at Ronald Reagan Center here on Friday (Local Time).

“I am happy that the American government has decided to return more than 100 antiquities of India that were stolen from us. These antiquities had reached the international markets. I express my gratitude to the American government for this,” PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister said, “These antiquities of Indian origin had reached the international market through right or wrong paths, but America’s decision to return them to India shows the emotional bond between the two nations.”

In a bid to rejuvenate India’s cultural and spiritual heritage, the Government of India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is bringing back antiquities and artefacts from across the world.

“Over centuries, innumerable priceless artefacts, some with deep cultural and religious significance, had been stolen and smuggled abroad. The government adopted a proactive approach to ‘bringing back Indian artefacts and cultural heritage,” said a government release.

On numerous foreign visits, Prime Minister discussed the matter with global leaders and multilateral institutions and total of 251 antiquities have been brought back to India, out of which 238 were brought back since 2014.

In 2022 also the US authorities returned 307 antiquities that were stolen by multiple smaller trafficking networks to India, valued at nearly 4 million USD.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L Bragg Jr had announced in October 2022 that they are returning 307 antiquities valued at nearly USD 4 million to the people of India and the majority of them were seized from disgraced art dealer Subhash Kapoor, a statement said.

Subhas Kapoor had assisted in trafficking the items from Afghanistan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and other countries.

According to the statement, “Five of the antiquities were seized according to the Office’s investigation into Nancy Wiener, and one according to an investigation into Nayef Homsi.”

All the antiquities were returned during a repatriation ceremony at the Indian Consulate in New York attended by India’s Consul General Randhir Jaiswal, and US Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) Acting Deputy Special Agent-in-Charge, Tom Lau.

Among the pieces being returned was the Arch Parikara, crafted from marble and valued at approximately USD 85,000. The Arch Parikara first surfaced in photographs depicting antiquity in a dirty, pre-restoration condition. These photographs, along with dozens of others depicting antiquities lying in the grass or on the ground, were sent to Kapoor by a supplier of illicit in India. The piece was smuggled out of India and into New York in May 2002, the statement read.

Thereafter, Kapoor laundered the Arch Parikara to the Nathan Rubin – Ida Ladd Family Foundation, who donated the piece to the Yale University Art Gallery in 2007, the statement added.

In 2022 alone, the Office has returned 682 antiquities, valued at over USD 84 million to 13 countries. Since its founding, the Antiquities Trafficking Unit has returned nearly 2,200 antiquities, valued at over USD 160 million, to 22 countries.

“The untiring efforts of the Government of India have led to the repatriation of our rightful artefacts that reflect and epitomise the glory of our ancient civilisation,” the release read . (ANI)

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Shah Lays Foundation Stone Of ‘Balidaan Stambh’ In Srinagar

By LokMarg 24th June 2023

Union Home Minister Amit Shah who is on his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir has arrived at Srinagar’s Pratap Park to lay the foundation stone of ‘Balidaan Stambh’.

On Friday, Union Home Minister arrived in Jammu and laid the foundation stone for various development projects and launch public welfare schemes.
The Union Home Minister also met the family members of victims in the Rajouri terror attack.

Shah also addressed a public meeting in Jammu and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will form the government in 2024 by securing over 300 seats and becoming the Prime Minister again.

The Union Minister also remembered the contributions of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerji on his death anniversary and recalled that Bengal is a part of India due to the late leader’s efforts.

Shah also addressed the Vitasta Mahotsav organised by the Ministry of Culture as the chief guest in Srinagar on Friday as part of his 2-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir.

Several dignitaries including the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha, Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi, Union Home Secretary and Secretary, Ministry of Culture were present on this occasion.

“This is the same Vitasta, which has been witness to many kinds of research in Kashmir for thousands of years and also has the privilege of being an amalgamation place of many cultures. This Jhelum has also seen Adishankar. Scholars of every field have come out of this land and made their arts famous not only in India but in the whole world; the assimilation of all these can be seen in today’s culture of Kashmir,” said Shah.

Union Home Minister said that Jhelum has seen difficult times, the stream of Vitasta has also seen blood, attacks by fanatics, and many regime changes and Jhelum has also been a witness to the horrific scourge of terrorism.

He said that Vitasta has given affection, love and enthusiasm to its children by incorporating all these in herself.

Union Home Minister said that about 1,900 artists from Kashmir and about 150 artists from across the country will exhibit and exchange their art in the Vitasta Mahotsav starting in Kashmir today.

He said that the Vitasta Mahotsav is the festival of the upcoming future of Kashmir, a link connecting our glorious history with the bright future, and Kashmir and the country move forward, create a great India, this is the goal of this festival. (ANI)

Modi’s Egypt Tour Begins Tomorrow, To Visit 11th Century Al-Hakim Mosque

By LokMarg 23rd June 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to visit the 11th-century Al-Hakim Mosque here during his two-day visit to Egypt beginning on Saturday.
PM Modi’s visit to the mosque is scheduled as the first event on the last day of his two-day programme in Egypt’s sprawling capital Cairo.

The Prime Minister will spend nearly half an hour at the Al-Hakim Mosque– a historic and prominent mosque in Cairo named after Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (985-1021), the 16th Fatimid caliph.

The mosque was originally built by Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah’s father, Caliph Al-‘Aziz Billah, towards the end of the 10th century, in the year 990, and was later completed by Al-Hakim in the year 1013.

The mosque is also known as Al-Anwar, meaning “the Illuminated”, similar in style to the name of the earlier Al-Azhar Mosque founded by the Fatimids. It is the second-largest mosque in the city of Cairo, and the fourth oldest.

The mosque is located in the heart of Islamic Cairo, on the east side of al-Mu’izz Street, just south of Bab al-Futuh (one of the northern city gates of Fatimid Cairo).

The Al-Hakim Mosque is a significant example of Fatimid architecture and history in Cairo. The rectangular mosque covers an area of 13,560-metre square out of which 5000 square metres is the large courtyard or sahn at the centre. The remaining area is divided into the four covered halls on each side of the mosque, with the Bayt al salat, or sanctuary area and prayer hall towards the qibla wall, being the largest at 4,000 square metres and consisting of five bays.

The mosque has two distinctive minarets on its north and west corners, which were modified by Al-Hakim himself in 1010 by adding a square salient around them. They are the oldest surviving minarets in the city. The mosque also has the distinction of being the oldest mosque in the world to have two minarets erected together at the time of its initial construction.

The mosque has eleven gates, of which the most important is the central one on the main facade, made of stone. The gate has a prominent portico with carved niches and squares on its tip, similar to the Mahdiyah Mosque in Tunisia.

The mosque also has pointed arches supported by rectangular columns in the courtyard and the prayer hall, reminiscent of the Ibn Tulun Mosque in Cairo.

The mosque of al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah is an important cultural site for the Dawoodi Bohra community in Cairo. The latest renovation project was the second such initiative undertaken by the Dawoodi Bohra community after the first renovation and restoration project that was completed nearly forty years ago.

The renovations were undertaken as part of a large-scale plan by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to boost tourism to Cairo’s Islamic sites. The work was co-funded by the Dawoodi Bohra community.

Work on the mosque began in 2017 and included repairs to water damage and cracks in the walls. Wooden fixtures, including the mosque’s doors, its pulpit and the signature decorative wooden tiles that line the base of its ceilings, were bolstered.

The ornate chandeliers of the mosque, one of Cairo’s most prominent Fatimid sites, were also restored. Security cameras were installed as well as more efficient electrical wiring to service both the indoor areas and the large courtyard that the mosque is known for.

Intricate restorations were also undertaken on the mosque’s facades and marble floors.

The al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah Mosque, a nearly 1000-year-old structure in the heart of the Egyptian capital of Cairo, was reopened on the 27th of February this year following extensive renovations that took six years to complete.

PM Modi will make a State visit to Egypt on June 24 and 25.

Earlier, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said, “It is worth mentioning here that this will be Prime Minister’s first visit to Egypt and I might also mention that this would be the first official bilateral visit of the Indian Prime Minister to Egypt since 1997.”

PM Modi during his first Egypt tour will also visit Heliopolis War Grave cemetery to pay tribute to the Indian soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice fighting for Egypt during the First World War. (ANI)

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India, US Back Ukraine’s Territorial Integrity, Condemn Ballistic Missile Launches

By LokMarg 23rd June 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden on Thursday while raising global issues, backed Ukraine’s “territorial integrity” and also “condemned North Korea’s ballistic missile launches.”

As Prime Minister Modi paid a maiden State visit to Washington, the two leaders, in a joint statement “called for respect for international law, principles of the UN charter and territorial integrity and sovereignty.”
“As global partners, the United States and India affirm that the rules-based international order must be respected. They emphasized that the contemporary global order has been built on principles of the UN Charter, international law, and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of states,” the statement read.

Expressing their deep concern over the conflict in Ukraine, President Biden and PM Modi “mourned its terrible and tragic humanitarian consequences.”

PM Modi and Biden also underscored the serious and growing impacts of the war on the global economic system, including on food, fuel and energy security, and critical supply chains. They called for greater efforts to mitigate the consequences of the war, especially in the developing world.

Both countries further pledge to render continuing humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine. They called for “respect for international law, principles of the UN charter, and territorial integrity and sovereignty,” as per the joint statement.

The leaders also condemned the destabilizing ballistic missile launches of North Korea, which violate relevant UN Security Council resolutions and pose a grave threat to international peace and security. They reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and urged N Korea to comply with its obligations under these resolutions and engage in substantive dialogue. They stressed the importance of addressing the concerns regarding North Korea’s proliferation linkages related to weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery, and related items in the region and beyond.

Apart from Ukraine and N Korea, two leaders also expressed deep concern about the “deteriorating situation in Myanmar, and called for the release of all those arbitrarily detained, the establishment of constructive dialogue, and the transition of Myanmar toward an inclusive federal democratic system,” according to the joint statement.

Both US and India also concurred on the importance of post-conflict reconstruction in Ukraine.

President Biden and Prime Minister Modi reiterated their enduring commitment to a free, open, inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous India-Pacific region with respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, and international law.

Both leaders expressed concern over coercive actions and rising tensions, and strongly oppose destabilizing or unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force. Both sides emphasized the importance of adherence to international law, particularly as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the maintenance of freedom of navigation and overflight, in addressing challenges to the maritime rules-based order, including in the East and South China Seas, said the joint statement. (ANI)

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Thanks For Announcing ‘Can’t Defeat Modi Alone’: Smriti

By LokMarg 23rd June 2023

Union Minister Smriti Irani took a swipe at the Opposition meeting in Patna, saying that Congress has admitted that they cannot defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi alone and that they need support from others to do so.

The senior BJP leader referred to the Opposition leaders’ meeting being held in Bihar’s Patna today. “I especially thank Congress for publicly announcing that they cannot alone defeat PM Modi and that they need the support of others to do so,” Smriti Irani said while addressing a press conference.
Irani further slammed the opposition and said that it is hilarious that under Congress such politicians have gathered those who themselves saw the sight of the murder democracy during the emergency.

“It is hilarious that those people are getting together who want to signal to the nation that their own capabilities are insufficient in front of Modiji,” she added.

The highly-anticipated Opposition meeting has begun in Bihar’s Patna and is being hosted by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with an aim to arrive at a consensus to forge a united Opposition front to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

The Opposition picked Patna as a venue for its meeting as it represents the 1974 call of total revolution by Jayaprakash Narayan that toppled Indira Gandhi’s majority government.

Ahead of the meeting, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, “There is a war of ideology going on in India. On one side is Congress party’s ‘Bharat Jodo’ ideology and on the other RSS and BJP’s ‘Bharat Todo’ ideology …Congress party’s DNA is in Bihar.”

He said that the opposition parties have come together to defeat the BJP.

“BJP is working to spread hate, violence and break the country. We are working to spread love and unite. Opposition parties have come here today and together we will defeat BJP,” he added.

As leaders of several opposition parties arrived in Patna on Thursday, the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) president Jayant Chaudhary decided to skip the conclave due to a “pre-decided family programme”.

This came after the Janata Dal (United), which is hosting the meet, said Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati has not been invited to the event.

The meeting has been called by Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar and will be attended by leaders of parties opposed to the BJP.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti were among the leaders who reached Patna for the meeting.

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, MP Sanjay Raut, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah arrived on Friday. (ANI)

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‘Rahul Rajneeti Chod Do’: BJP Puts Posters With Rahul As ‘Devdas’

By LokMarg 23rd June 2023

Ahead of the Opposition meeting in Bihar’s Patna, posters mocking Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as ‘real-life Devdas’ was put up outside Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office here.

“Mamata Didi ne kaha Bengal Chod Do, Kejriwal ne kaha Dilli aur Punjab chod do, Lalu-Nitish ne kaha Bihar chod do, Akhilesh ne kaha Uttar Pradesh chod do, Stalin ne kaha Tamil Nadu chod do, woh din dur nahi jab sab mil kahenge, Congressi (Rahul) rajneeti chod do. (Mamata didi asked to leave Bengal, Kejriwal asked to leave Delhi and Punjab. Lalu and Nitish asked to leave Bihar. Akhilesh said to leave Uttar Pradesh. Stalin said to leave Tamil Nadu….that day is not far when everyone will ask Congress (Rahul) to leave politics),” the poster stated which had Shah Rukh Khan, the reel Devdas, and Rahul Gandhi, the ‘real Devdas’.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday arrived in Bihar’s Patna to attend the Opposition leaders’ meeting hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, with an aim to arrive at a consensus to forge a united Opposition front to take on the BJP.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the meeting, Kharge said that the opposition parties’ agenda is to remove the Bharatiya Janata Party government at the Centre and they all would fight together.

“We all want to fight together against BJP and our agenda is to remove the BJP government,” Kharge said while talking to the media as he left for the opposition meeting in Bihar’s Patna.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravi Shankar Prasad asked who would be the Prime Ministerial candidate from the Opposition for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.”Nitish Kumar 2024 ke liye baaraat saja rahe hai Patna mai, baaraat me to dulha bhi hota hai, pr is baaraat ka dulha kon hai? (Nitish Kumar is preparing the wedding procession for the 2024 elections in Patna, but who is the groom (PM contender). Everyone is calling themselves a PM contender,” he said.

The opposition unity meeting will be hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with the aim to arrive at a consensus to forge a united Opposition front to take on the BJP.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the meeting, Kharge said that the opposition parties’ agenda is to remove the Bharatiya Janata Party government at the Centre and they all would fight together

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge would attend the opposition unity meeting in Patna on Friday along with party leader Rahul Gandhi.

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Patna: Opposition Leaders’ Meet Begins For 2024 LS Polls

By LokMarg 23rd June 2023

The highly-anticipated Opposition meeting begins in Bihar’s Patna hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with an aim to arrive at a consensus to forge a united Opposition front to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

The Opposition picked Patna as a venue for its meeting as it represents the 1974 call of total revolution by Jayaprakash Narayan that toppled Indira Gandhi’s majority government.
Ahead of the meeting, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, “There is a war of ideology going on in India. On one side is Congress party’s ‘Bharat Jodo’ ideology and on the other RSS and BJP’s ‘Bharat Todo’ ideology …Congress party’s DNA is in Bihar.”

He said that the opposition parties have come together to defeat the BJP.

“BJP is working to spread hate, violence and break the country. We are working to spread love and unite. Opposition parties have come here today and together we will defeat BJP,” he added.

As leaders of several opposition parties arrived in Patna on Thursday, the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) president Jayant Chaudhary decided to skip the conclave due to a “pre-decided family programme”. Chaudhary, however, hoped the meeting will be an “important milestone in the path of opposition unity”.

This came after the Janata Dal (United), which is hosting the meet, said Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati has not been invited to the event.

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati took a dig at the meeting with sarcastic remark, “Dil mile ya na mile, haath milate rahiye”.

She also used another Hindi proverb “Muh me Ram, bagal me chhuri” and said the opposition parties should have cleared their intentions before the meeting.

The meeting has been called by Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar and will be attended by leaders of parties opposed to the BJP.

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Penn Masala Sings ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’ For Modi’s Welcome

By LokMarg 22nd June 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday arrived at the White House to a ceremonial welcome hosted by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.

Upon his arrival, an American A cappella group, Penn Masala, performed Shah Rukh Khan’s iconic number ‘Chhaiya Chhaiya’, from Mani Ratnam’s ‘Dil Se’, at the White House to welcome PM Modi.

Prime Minister Modi received a rousing reception from members of the Indian diaspora and other guests who had gathered in numbers on the South Lawns of the White House.

PM Modi was dressed in a traditional white kurta pyjama paired with a powder blue jacket.

Visuals showed huge crowds waving Indian and US flags and chanting “Modi, Modi”.

Some people were seen waving banners, one of which read, “Indian American Diaspora welcomes Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi.”

A woman, who was among the excited crowd which massed at the South Lawns to welcome PM Modi, told ANI, “I have seen Presidents of many countries visiting the US, but never seen such a large crowd gathered here to welcome them. This crowd here means that he (PM Modi) is doing good.”

An Indian-origin student produced a soulful violin recital on the balcony of the White House as members of the Indian community waited in anticipation of PM Modi’s grand arrival.

PM Modi and President Biden will have a one-on-one meeting in the Oval Office of the White House before holding high-level talks to further boost the growing Indo-US strategic relations in areas like defence, space, clean energy and critical technologies.

National anthems of India and the US played out as thousands gathered on the White House South Lawns to greet PM Modi.

“Looking forward to today’s talks with @POTUS @JoeBiden. I am confident our discussions will further strengthen India-USA relations,” PM Modi tweeted.

The Prime Minister will also address a joint session of the US Congress later, at 1.30 am (IST). (ANI)

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