US Vice President Kamala Harris received Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he arrived in the United States and many Indians pointed out a certain insult perceived that this was the first time in the history of India that an Indian Prime Minister was received by a US Vice President and not the President himself.
They held talks in a bilateral meeting, in Washington DC on Thursday as part of a three-day official visit stateside.
It is reported that the Prime Minister presented some very special gifts to the American Vice President, giving her with a copy of old notifications related to her grandfather, PV Gopalan in a wooden handicraft frame. V Gopalan was a great respected government official who served in various positions. PM Modi also gave VP Harris a Gulabi Meenakari Chess Set.
The two leaders discussed views on a number of issues including the situation in Afghanistan, the coronavirus pandemic, tackling climate change as well as the U.S. and India’s commitment towards the Indo-Pacific region, according to the Indian foreign ministry.
However, during talks, Kamala Harris almost seemed to be schooling the Indian Prime Minister on democracy.
Gaurav Pandhi Youth Leader from Congress shared a video clip of VP Harris’ speech and tweeted, “Kamala Harris schooled Modi on democracy and Godi Media will not show you this!”
In her speech, she told Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “Finally, as democracies around the world are under threat, it is imperative that we defend democratic principles and institutions within our respective countries and around the world and that we maintain what we must do to strengthen democracies at home and it is incumbent on our nations to of course protect democracies in the best interest of the people of their countries.”
Kamala Harris schooled Modi on democracy and Godi Media will not show you this 😱 pic.twitter.com/rl4QGaUizk — Gaurav Pandhi (@GauravPandhi) September 24, 2021
Srinivas BV tweeted: “She finally tweeted, a lecture on Democracy to remind the Democratic values & importance of free and fair institutions to the most undemocratic PM.
Bhakts started celebrating without listening to the content of the Video.
Here is the content of a part of her speech about democracy to PM Modi.
She said, “I know from personal experience and from my family of the commitment of the Indian people to democracy and to freedom and to the work that may be done and can be done, to imagine and then actually achieve our vision for democratic principles and institutions. Thank you.”
She finally tweeted, a lecture on Democracy to remind the Democratic values & importance of free and fair institutions to the most undemocratic PM. Bhakts started celebrating without listening to the content of the Video. pic.twitter.com/11bXSvq87d — Srinivas BV (@srinivasiyc) September 24, 2021
Kamala Harris also said, “The United States, like India, feels very strongly about the pride of being a member of the Indo-Pacific, but also the fragility and the importance and strength as well, of those relationships, including maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific,” she said.
Of note, PM Modi is due to meet Biden to review the U.S.-India comprehensive global strategic partnership on Friday.
He will also attend the first in-person Quad Leaders’ Summit hosted by Biden, alongside Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japanese leader Yoshihide Suga.
It would be imperative for India to really fathom the levels of danger the nation is falling into because of the decline of democracy. Of note, communal violence, ruthless arrests and jail time without proper warrants, religious freedom thwarted, and suppression of freedom of expression have crushed India’s spirit. For the second successive year, India has ranked 142 among 180 countries on the Index of Press freedom. Four journalists were killed in connection with their work in 2020, and India is ranked one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists trying to do their job properly”, a report observes via The Wire. Perhaps Kamala Harris hit the nail on the head, but of course, it doesn’t come across well when it comes from another nation, which is why if the democracy system is glowing, well-oiled and machinary running smoothly, creaks and screeches would be eliminated and there would be no need for anyone in the globe to comment on our nation. We have to set things right.
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