Biden and Indian PM Modi kick off controversial state visit

The rain didn’t cast a damper on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival at the White House on Thursday even as his record of clamping down on human rights and press freedom in his home country casts a cloud over his meeting with President Joe Biden. 

The South Lawn had a festival-like atmosphere despite the drizzle as thousands of invited guests — the vast majority of them Indian-American – waved small Indian and US flags.

The prime minister was greeted by the crowd of 7,000 with shouts of: ‘Modi, Modi.’

At a time the White House is seeking to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific, Biden, who campaigned for democracy over autocracy, will have to balance his desire to counter Beijing with Modi’s growing iron fist. 

‘I’ve long believed that the relationship between the United States in India is one of them will be one of the defining relationships with 21st century,’ Biden said as he welcomed Modi to the White House in an elaborate ceremony on the South Lawn that included a military salute and the Fife and Drum Corps. 

President Joe Biden and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi listen to the national anthems during a welcoming ceremony for Modi on the South Lawn of the White House

Thousands of Indian-Americans were on the South Lawn, shouting ‘Modi, Modi’

Both men noted the consitutions of their countries begin with ‘we the people.’ 

But, in his remarks, Biden didn’t directly mention the controversy around Modi’s rule back home. instead he focused on the future and the relationship between the two nations. 

‘The decisions we make today are going to determine our future for decades to come,’ Biden said. 

The president also paid tribute to the service of Indian-Americans, including Vice President Kamala Harris, who was watching from the sidelines.

Modi expressed his thanks for the warm welcome.

‘Friends, this grant welcome ceremony at the White House today is an honor and pride for 1.4 billion people of India. This is also an honor for more than 4 million people of Indian origin, living in the US. For this honor, I express my heartfelt gratitude to President Biden and Dr. Jill Biden,’ he said.

The White House has said President Biden won’t lecture Modi on human rights even though he will speak about the issue. The prime minister, in India, has cracked down on dissents and hounded his opposition. 

Modi has been accused of marginalizing Muslims, the Hindu country’s largest minority group. Under Modi, violence against Muslims has become more common. And the prime minister has been criticized for supporting a law that makes it more difficult for Muslim immigrants to become Indian citizens.

The White House also argues publicly that Modi’s visit is not about China.

‘This state visit is not about China. And it’s not about sending a message to China. It really is all about the bilateral relationship with India and fostering that relationship for a future that we believe is very, very great,’ White House spokesman John Kirby said.

But China will be an unspoken, underlying thread. The visit comes as India has surpassed China as the world’s most populous nation.

The White House’s courtship of Modi, and its effort to draw India closer on issues of trade, climate and technology, all have the greater goal of countering Beijing’s influence in the region.

President Biden and Prime Minister Modi exchange a hug

First Lady Jill Biden, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden wave from the South Balcony during a welcoming ceremony for Modi at the White House

People hold a photo of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his welcoming ceremony

Prime Minister Modi has visited the United States several times but this is his first state visit

Despite the rain, the atmosphere at the White House had a festival like atmosphere

Other presidents also have kept India close. Barack Obama visited India during his presidency, as did Donald Trump. Trump also attended a ‘Howdy Modi’ event with the prime minister in Houston. 

To help its cause, the Biden White House is honoring Modi with a state dinner – the third of the Biden administration. And while Modi has been to the U.S. five time since becoming prime minister in 2014 this will be his first state visit.

Jill Biden on Wednesday unveiled a vegetable filled-menu for occasion and joked she’s in ‘suspense’ as to whether President Biden will pick the sea bass or stick with her veggie option.

Modi is a vegetarian and President Biden is known for his love of American classics like spaghetti, peanut butter and jelly and ice cream.

The menu for Thursday’s state dinner includes marinated millet and grilled corn salad, stuffed portobello mushrooms, saffron-infused risotto with sea bass available upon request. Strawberry Shortcake will be served for dessert.

President Joe Biden and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi watch the Fife and Drum Corps perform during the welcoming ceremony

It drizzled during the welcoming ceremony but it didn’t put a damper on the event

Four hundred guests will descend upon the White House for the black-tie event, a large number for a state dinner. 

Vice President Kamala Harris jokes with U.S. Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan as they wait to greet India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi

The first lady brought in Chef Nina Curtis, a Sacramento, Calif., who is celebrated for her exceptional skill and creativity in plant-based cuisine, as a guest chef for the event.

‘With this official state visit, we are bringing together the world’s oldest and the world’s largest democracies,’ Jill BIden said at the preview of the dinner.

The event itself will take place on a pavilion on the South Lawn. David Stark Design worked with the East Wing for the event, which incorporates elments of Indian and American culture in the decor.

The flowers on the table were a saffron color and included a mix of lilies, tulips, and peonies, which are the first lady’s favorite. 

Candles of various sizes sit between the plates, offering a warm glow. 

Stark said he worked with Jill Biden on the decorations. 

‘She loves the feeling of being able to walk into the garden, her vision for being able to put together a still life on the table that feels very personal and doesn’t feel like the florist came to town but it feels like you did it yourself,’ he said.

The pavilion will be decorated in greens and saffron, honoring the colors of the Indian flag. The decor will include the peacock and the bald eagle; mandala-style illustrations found in traditional Indian art; and the lotus flower.

After the food is served, violinist Joshua Bell and Penn Masala, a South Asian A Cappella Group founded by students at the University of Pennsylvania, will perform.   

Guest Chef Nina Curtis composed the menu; she holds the main course which includes a stuffed portobello mushrooms and creamy saffron-infused risotto

The 400 guests will receive a copy of the dinner menu on their plates

First lady Jill Biden and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attended a science event 

The president is expected to bring up U.S. concerns about democratic backsliding in India, but he will not lecture Modi on the subject, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a briefing. 

When the U.S. sees challenges to press, religious or other freedoms, ‘we make our views known,’ Sullivan said, according to Reuters. He added: ‘We do so in a way where we don´t seek to lecture or assert that we don´t have challenges ourselves.

‘Ultimately, 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,’ Sullivan said. 

Biden has argued for the virtues of democracy over autocracy. And Modi’s record on human rights could put the president in a tough spot as he welcomes the Indian leader with open arms. 

The White House has played coy when it comes to how Biden will handle Modi’s growing iron fist. 

‘It is commonplace for President Biden when he was talking with his counterparts from overseas, that he routinely raises issues of concern to us. Certainly human rights is of concern to the United States and it’s a foundational element to President Biden’s foreign policy, so I’ll just leave it at that,’ National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday.

There are expected to be protests around the White House on Thursday. 

And more than 70 members of Congress wrote to Biden on Tuesday, urging him to address human rights concerns with Modi.

‘A series of independent, credible reports reflect troubling signs in India toward the shrinking of political space, the rise of religious intolerance, the targeting of civil society organizations and journalists, and growing restrictions on press freedoms and internet access,’ the lawmakers wrote. 

Jill Biden and White House Social Secretary Carlos Elizondo pose during a media preview in advance of Thursday’s State Dinner 

The tables are decorated with flowers and candles

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi participates in a yoga class during the observation of International Yoga Day on the grounds of United Nations headquarters in New York

Modi embraces actor Richard Gere as they attend the 9th International Day of Yoga event at UN headquarters in N

Modi was once denied a visa to the U.S. after riots in 2002 killed more than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, in Gujarat – the region where he was chief minister. 

To ban Modi, the State Department invoked a little-known U.S. law passed in 1998 that makes foreign officials responsible for ‘severe violations of religious freedom’ ineligible for visas.

But Modi was granted entry to the U.S. after his 2014 election as prime minister. 

Modi has been accused of marginalizing Muslims, the Hindu country’s largest minority group. Under Modi, violence against Muslims has become more common. And the prime minister has been criticized for supporting a law that makes it more difficult for Muslim immigrants to become Indian citizens.

Before arriving in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, Modi led celebrations for the International Day of Yoga at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

He also visited the National Science Foundation with first lady Jill Biden on Wednesday afternoon and had a private dinner with the first couple that evening, which consisted of some of President Biden’s favorite food, including pasta and ice cream.

Modi willl also address a joint session of Congress. 

Modi is meeting with several U.S. CEOs during his visit to America, including at a Friday reception. On Tuesday he met with Twitter’s Elon Musk in New York. 

Biden and Modi are expected to announce a variety of agreements related to defense cooperation and sales, artificial intelligence, quantum computing and investments in India by Micron Technology and other U.S. companies. 

The war in the Ukraine will also be on the agenda. India has continued to buy oil and weapons from Russia and has not publicly condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

For his part, Modi is pushing for India a bigger role on the global stage. India, a member of the G20, will host world leaders for the group’s annual meeting in September. And Modi wants his country to have a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council.