Modi contacts US lawmakers over Ukraine and democracy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated his public and direct message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that “this is not an era of war” but rather one of conversation and diplomacy in an effort to calm worries in the US Congress over India’s stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Standing ovations were then given, indicating that Congress members wanted to hear the Prime Minister’s assurance. Many of them, including steadfast and consistent friends of the bilateral relationship, had expressed concern over India’s refusal to condemn Russia and said it was now or never for India to decide which side it would support.

Another subject that concerned the lawmakers, more than 70 of whom submitted a joint letter to US President Joe Biden last week encouraging him to bring up concerns of democracy, religious freedom, and press freedom in India, was another one that Modi talked at length about.

In the context of the 75th anniversary of Indian independence in 2022, the Prime Minister further went on to group the control of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals with that of the British empire, referring to them as “thousand years of foreign rule”.

Today, Modi made history by becoming the first Indian prime minister to twice address a joint session of the US Congress, referring to it as a “exceptional privilege”.

He delivered his speech in English while reading from a teleprompter to repeated cheers from the audience and the jam-packed visitors’ gallery. They regularly chanted “Modi, Modi” before concluding with “Vande Mataram” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”.

One of the “deeply disruptive developments” in recent years when “war returned to Europe” was, according to Modi, the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Global South, he said, was severely impacted.

To raucous cheers from the MPs, the Prime Minister said, “The global order is based on the respect for the principles of the UN Charter, peaceful resolution of disputes, and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

“As I explicitly and openly said. To even louder and longer cheers and whoops, Modi said, “This is not a time of conflict; rather, it is a time of discussion and diplomacy. We must all use our best effort to put an end to the slaughter and suffering of people.

Modi was making reference to comments he made with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a joint media appearance in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Modi had informed Putin that “this was not an era of war” as a bank of television cameras were fixed on the two leaders. The remark echoed in all major cities throughout the globe, but Washington, D.C., undoubtedly heard it the loudest.

Although some politicians have started to doubt these expenditures, the US Congress as a whole remains steadfastly committed to aiding Ukraine for, in Biden’s words, “as long as it takes.” This Congress has authorised billions of dollars’ worth of military equipment that the Biden administration has requested for Ukraine.

The Prime Minister also made an effort to address a different worry that many parliamentarians have expressed both publicly and privately: that India’s democracy is in danger due to the persecution of religious minorities, restrictions on dissent, and restrictions on press freedom.

More than 70 members of Congress signed a letter that Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and Senator Chris Van Hollen organised pushing Biden to bring up these concerns in his discussions with Modi.

The India Caucus’ co-chair, Democratic Senator Mark Warner, had said that he would want to hear the Prime Minister declare “commitment, recommitment” to democracy.

In addition to stating that “democracy is one of sacred and shared values,” Modi said, “Democracy is the spirit that supports equality and dignity; democracy is the idea that welcomes debate and discourse; democracy is a culture that gives wings to thoughts and expression.”

India is fortunate to have had these ideals from the beginning of time. India is the mother of democracy, he said, in the formation of the democratic spirit.

The Sanskrit phrase, which, according to the Prime Minister, means “truth is one but the wise express it in a different ways,” was read out in support of his claim.