‘Even Drizzle Couldn’t Dampen Spirits’, Indian Diaspora Gathers at South Lawns of White House to Witness PM Modi’s Welcome

Kumar Rakesh

Washington DC, 22nd June. Large groups of Indian diaspora gathered on the White House’s South Lawns on Thursday under an overcast sky as ceremonial music played ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival for his official welcome.

Officials said that 2,000-3,000 people would attend the official welcome for Modi, who is on his first state visit to the United States.

A drizzle did not dampen the spirits of the diaspora, many of whom had traveled overnight from various regions of the United States, as they waved the flags of the two countries and raised slogans.

Slogans such as ‘Vande Mataram,’ ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai,’ and ‘Modi, Modi’ were chanted.

Prime Minister Modi arrived in Washington on Wednesday for the second part of his first state visit to the United States, during which he will hold bilateral talks with President Joe Biden and address a joint session of Congress.

Prime Minister Modi and President Biden will meet one-on-one in the White House Oval Office on Thursday before holding high-level talks to strengthen the developing Indo-US strategic partnerships in areas such as defense, space, and key technologies.

The day would begin with President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden meeting Prime Minister Modi on the South Lawn, which would include a 21-gun salute.

The welcome ceremony would be attended by Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff. Following that, the leaders of the world’s two largest democracies will hold a bilateral meet in the Oval Office, during which they are expected to make some opening remarks.

Modi and Biden are set to hold a joint press conference from the White House’s East Room.

They will very certainly take questions from the media. Normally, each side takes two questions, although it is possible for each side to take one question. During former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s last Indian State Visit in November 2009, each side took one question.

The prime minister would then travel to Congress to deliver an address to the joint session of the United States Congress, which would be attended by Congressmen and senators, as well as several hundred Indian Americans from the visitor’s gallery.

When Modi addresses a joint session of the US Congress today, he will become only the third world leader, outside of Israel, to do it twice.

Winston Churchill in 1941, 1943, and 1952, and Nelson Mandela in 1990 and 1994, are the other two. Modi previously addressed the United States Congress in 2016.

Biden and the first lady will greet Modi as he arrives for the evening State Dinner. A tent pavilion large enough to seat more than 400 guests is being built on the White House’s South Lawns.

About an hour before the reception and dinner, which would be followed by entertainment, the guest lists would be announced.

While the two sides have managed to keep the deliverables under wraps, it is predicted that India and the US will emerge as best friends as a result of the visit.

Space, education, defense, technology, climate change, and health are among the most important areas.