President Biden caused an awkward spectacle Thursday morning, putting his hand on his heart for the Indian national anthem as he welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the White House.
The 80-year-old commander-in-chief rolled out the red carpet for Modi, who has served as India’s prime minister since 2014, as part of a state visit to bolster the Washington-New Delhi alliance amid mounting tensions with Russia and China.
The two, joined by about 7,000 guests, were treated to music from the United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps and a multi-gun salute as they stood shoulder to shoulder on the South Lawn.
As the first notes of the Indian anthem, “Jana Gana Mana,” sounded, Biden raised his right hand to his left breast, holding it there for about 15 seconds.
He then slowly lowered it, apparently recognizing the bands were not playing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
The formal welcoming ceremony included performances by violinist Vibha Janakiraman and the a cappella group Penn Masala. As Modi arrived, the crowd — including many sari- and shalwar kameez-clad members of the Indian diaspora — broke out in a chant of “Modi! Modi! Modi!”
“I’ve long believed the relationship between the United States and India … will be one of the defining relationships of the 21st century,” Biden said. “Since I’ve become president, we’ve continued to build a relationship built on mutual trust, candor and respect.”
Modi will address a joint meeting of Congress Thursday afternoon and later be treated to a gala state dinner at the White House, as India seeks to remain neutral on topics such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and US policy toward China.
More than 70 lawmakers called on Biden earlier this week to raise concerns with Modi about the purported erosion of religious, press and political freedoms in the world’s most populous democracy.
Far-left Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) have also said they will boycott Modi’s address to Congress.
However, administration officials told the New York Times the visit may help in “bending the arc of India’s engagement” toward backing Ukraine in the war.
The president will also remain “respectful” while raising the issue of human rights abuses with Modi, who has agreed to a rare news conference with reporters, the Times also reported.
“The question of where politics and the question of democratic institutions go in India is going to be determined within India by Indians. It’s not going to be determined by the United States,” White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said of the visit. “So what we can do is our part, and our part is to speak out on behalf of universal values.”
Modi had his US visa revoked in 2005 for failing while chief minister of the Indian state of Gujarat to put an end to anti-Muslim riots that resulted in more than 1,000 deaths.
The nation’s Supreme Court later absolved him of responsibility for the violence.
Biden and the prime minister are expected to tout their collaboration on tech, defense and artificial intelligence initiatives, as well as a joint mission to the International Space Station next year.
Modi will also sign onto a space exploration accord for travel to the moon and Mars.
Modi is to be honored at a State Department luncheon on Friday hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. He also is scheduled to address members of the Indian diaspora before departing Washington.
With Post wires
