Clouds of coercion on Indo-Pacific, says Modi in his second address to US Congress

I.S. Saluja

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Terrorism is an enemy of humanity and there can be “no ifs or buts” in dealing with the scourge, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said as he sought action against its state sponsors, in an oblique attack on Pakistan.

In his address to the joint meeting of the US Congress on Thursday, June 22, Prime Minister Modi said that more than two decades after 9/11 and over a decade after the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, radicalism and terrorism still remain a pressing danger for the whole world.

“These ideologies keep taking new identities and forms, but their intentions are the same. Terrorism is an enemy of humanity and there can be no ifs or buts in dealing with it. We must overcome all such forces sponsoring and exporting terror,” Modi said in his 60-minute address in English.

The Prime Minister also talked about the virtues of democracy, the ties that bind India and the United States, and India’s economic and development trajectory. He also touched on issues of global concern, such as the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Indo-Pacific.

Mr. Modi’s speech was heard by a packed chamber and he received several standing ovations, but over 70 members of Congress had raised concerns about democratic backsliding in India ahead of his address. A handful of them boycotted the event. “Democracy is one of our sacred and shared values,” the Prime Minister said as he referred to India as the “mother of democracy”.

“I am here to speak about our calling for this century,” he said, characterizing as an “exceptional privilege” the opportunity to address Congress twice (his first address was in June 2016).

He talked about the digitization of the Indian economy and said that India would soon be the third-largest economy in the world. “When India grows, the world grows,” Mr. Modi said.

He depicted India’s development as being led by women and a blend of ancient values and modern capabilities, such as in technology.

“Be it creative reels on Insta or real-time payments, coding or quantum computing… the youth of India are a great example of how a society can embrace latest technology,” the Prime Minister said.

“We celebrated a remarkable journey of over 75 years of freedom, after a thousand years of foreign rule in one form or another,” Mr. Modi said. (This is apparently a reference to both British rule and Mughal rule. The BJP has previously alluded to the Mughals as being essentially foreign).

He also spoke about India’s environmental commitments, linking them to India’s culture.

On the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Mr. Modi said the world order was based on respect for the United Nations Charter, sovereignty and territorial integrity and the peaceful resolution of disputes.

“War has returned to Europe. It is causing great pain in the region,” he said, adding that the countries of the so-called Global South were particularly impacted.

“As I have said directly and publicly, this is not an era of war. But, it is one of dialogue and diplomacy,” Mr. Modi said.

Modi also made a veiled reference to China, saying the global order is based on respect for the principles of the UN Charter, peaceful resolution of disputes, and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. Representing 1.4 billion Indians, Modi said it is always a great honor to address the US Congress and an exceptional privilege to do so twice.

Modi became the first Indian leader to address the joint session of the US Congress twice on Thursday. He first addressed a joint meeting of the US Congress in 2016.

Modi said as there have been many advances in AI- Artificial Intelligence – in the past few years, at the same time, there have been even more momentous developments in other AI- America and India.

“We were strangers in the defense cooperation at the turn of the century. Now, the US has become one of our most important defense partners,” said Modi, who is currently on his maiden state visit.

His words received a standing ovation from US lawmakers.

Modi said democracy is one of their sacred and shared values.
“It has evolved over a long time and taken various forms and systems. Throughout history, however, one thing has been clear. Democracy is the spirit that supports equality and dignity. Democracy is the idea that welcomes debate and discourse,” he said.

Democracy is the culture that gives wings to thought and expression, he said, adding that India is blessed to have had such values from times immemorial.

In the evolution of the democratic spirit, India is the “Mother of Democracy” he added.
(With inputs from PTI)