'Democracy in Our DNA': PM Modi Answers Questions On Human Rights In Rare Press Conference At White House

In an extremely rare occurrence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with US President Joe Biden, on Thursday answered two burning questions from journalists in a joint press conference at the White House. The questions, one from an Indian journalist and one from an American, revolved around the human rights situation in India and climate action by the two countries.

"Prime Minister and I had a good discussion about democratic values," Biden said when asked for his views on human rights violations being overlooked in India. "We believe in the dignity of every citizen. It's in America's DNA and I believe in India's DNA that the whole world has a stake in our success."

Modi, who agreed to speak to the press for the first time since becoming prime minister nine years ago, also answered questions on reports of discrimination in India. He reiterated Biden's remark and said that democracy was in India's DNA. "It stuns me to hear that India calls itself a democracy because it is a democracy...As President Biden says, democracy is in the DNA of India and US," PM Modi said.

"Democracy can deliver and when we talk about democracy, there is no discrimination in India on the basis of caste, creed, religion etc. That is why, India believes in sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas, sabka prayaas and walks ahead with it," the prime minister said denying human rights violations.

Responding to a question about the steps taken toward climate action, Biden said that climate change was an "existential threat to humanity". Meanwhile, PM Modi highlighted that India was the only G20 country that kept the promise it took in Paris to protect the environment. “Environment has an important place in our culture. We don’t believe in exploitation of nature,” he said.

Notably, during the last Indian State Visit of former prime minister Manmohan Singh in November 2009, the two sides took one question each.

Modi, Biden Issue Joint Statement

After a fruitful bilateral discussion, US President Biden PM Modi issued a joint statement highlighting the US-India partnership. Praising the Indian community in the US, President Biden mentioned the contributions of Americans of Indian heritage in his administration. "Together we are unlocking a shared future of unlimited potential," he said in the East Room of the White House.

Both leaders discussed a wide range of issues of mutual and global interests, aimed at further boosting the Indo-US strategic relations in areas like defence, space, clean energy and critical technologies. Modi, in his statement, added that they discussed several regional and global issues during the bilateral meeting. "We both agree governments, businesses & academic institutions should come together to fulfil our strategic technology partnership," he said.

"For the partnership between India and the US, even the sky is not the limit. The most important pillar of our relations is our people-to-people ties. More than 40 lakh people of Indian origin are contributing to the development of America," he noted. The Prime Minister said that the two biggest democracies of the world, India and the US, can contribute towards global peace, stability and prosperity.

The Grand Reception

PM Modi arrived at the White House earlier today where for the grand reception. US President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff received PM Modi on the South Lawn for the ceremonial welcome that included a 19-gun salute and the national anthems of the two countries.

Taking the stage first, Biden described the relationship between US and India as "one of the most defining relationships in the 21st century". He said that India and the US are working closely on eliminating poverty, expanding access to healthcare, addressing climate change and tackling food and energy insecurity triggered by the Russian war on Ukraine. “Equity under the law, freedom of expression, religious pluralism, and diversity of our people are the core principles that have endured and evolved, even as they faced challenges, throughout our nation's histories,” the US President noted.

The two leaders shared a warm embrace as Biden invited Modi on stage. The prime minister thanked US President Joe Biden for his friendship and said that the grand welcome ceremony at the White House was "an honour for 1.4 billion Indians". He also said that the diaspora was the real strength behind the India-US strong ties.

The Indian diaspora turned out in exponential numbers despite a rainy morning on the South Lawn of the White House to witness the ceremonial welcome of Prime Minister Narendra Modi by President Joe Biden on his first state visit. Loud chants of “Modi, Modi!” were heard as the PM, donning a white kurta and sky blue jacket, got down from his cavalcade and walked the carpet. 

Bilateral Meeting

The two leaders then held a one-on-one bilateral meeting in the Oval Office. Modi and Biden reviewed the various facets of India-USA ties and discussed ways to further deepen them for the peace and prosperity of our people and for the global good. They also discussed how to further boost the growing Indo-US strategic relations in areas like defence, space and critical technologies in high-level meeting.

The prime minister will head to the Congress to deliver an address to the joint meeting of the US Congress, which would be attended by Congressmen and senators in the presence of several hundred Indian Americans from the visitor’s gallery. PM Modi will be only the third world leader, outside of Israel, to make such an address twice.

Later in the evening, Biden and the first lady will greet Modi for the State dinner. A tent pavilion is being installed on the South Lawns of the White House, big enough to accommodate more than 400 guests.