United States: Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi and US President Mr. Joe Biden were questioned directly about the alleged human rights violations that occurred under Mr. Modi’s leadership.

In a short press conference at the White House, the two leaders emphasised the importance of a long-lasting partnership between their countries in the future.

“The prime minister and I had a good discussion about democratic values. And it’s a common Democratic character of both our countries and our people: our diversity, our culture, our open, tolerant, robust debate,” Mr. Biden commented when asked to respond to criticism that the Biden administration was overlooking alleged rights abuses committed by Modi in the name of geopolitics.

“It is in America’s DNA, and I believe in India’s DNA, that the whole world has a stake in our success, both of us, in maintaining our democracies,” the US President added.

When asked about the wide range of rights groups that have accused Mr. Modi’s government of restricting freedom of expression, discriminating against minorities, and stifling, the Indian PM replied that he was “surprised” by the criticism.

“We have always proved that democracy can deliver. And when I say deliver, this is regardless of caste, creed, religion, or gender; there’s absolutely no space for discrimination. And when you talk of democracy, if there are no human values, if there is no humanity, if there are no human rights, then it’s not a democracy,” Mr. Modi remarked.

Mr. Biden further stated that the two leaders had discussed “shared efforts to mitigate humanitarian tragedies unleashed by Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine and to defend the core principles of UN Charter sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

During the visit, the US and Indian leaders were set to sign off on what one official called a “trailblazing” deal to allow General Electric Co. (GE) to produce jet engines in India to power Indian military aircraft. The company earlier stated that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. to produce the engines.

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