Modi visits US to deepen ties, but concern raised among some politicians

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks at a lunch held in his honor hosted by US Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the State Department. Reuters

In a toast, Ms. Harris spoke of her Indian-born late mother, Shyamala Gopalan, who came to the United States at age 19 and became a leading breast cancer researcher. AP Photo

US President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting with Mr. Modi and American and Indian business leaders in the East Room of the White House. From left, Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, Mr. Modi, Mr. Biden, and Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft. AP Photo

Sunita Williams, NASA astronaut, left, listens as Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries, right, speaks during the meeting. AP Photo

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, is also present. AP Photo

President Joe Biden talks with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a state dinner at the White House in Washington. AP

Doug Emhoff, US second gentleman, third left, attends the official state dinner. AFP

Mr Biden, Mr Modi and first lady Jill Biden at the Grand Staircase of the White House. EPA

The Bidens and Mr Modi arrive for a state dinner. AP

Mr Modi addresses a joint session of the US Congress. AP

Mr Modi speaks to the Congress. AFP

Mr Modi speaks to a joint session of the US Congress. AP

Mr Biden and Mr Modi speak during a joint press conferences in the East Room of the White House in Washington. AFP

Mr Modi and Mr Biden are expected to announce a series of defence and commercial deals designed to improve military and economic ties. Bloomberg

Mr Biden speaks at the news conference at the White House. Bloomberg

Mr Biden and Mr Modi speak in the Oval Office of the White House. EPA

Mr Biden walks with Mr Modi at the White House during the Indian Prime Minister's official visit to Washington. Reuters

Mr Modi is welcomed to the White House. EPA

Mr Biden, first lady Jill Biden and Mr Modi attend an official state arrival ceremony at the White House. Reuters

Mr Modi speaks from the South Lawn. He is in the US on a four-day state visit. AP

Mr Modi and Mr Biden watch a performance by the US Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. AP

Mr Modi has said ties between the countries are 'one of the defining relationships of the 21st century'. AP

Mr Biden greets Mr Modi in Washington. AP

Indian Americans gather for the visit. AP

US Vice President Kamala Harris, right, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, second left, were among the senior officials at the event. Reuters

Mr Biden and Mr Modi exchange gifts at the White House. Reuters

A child raises a homemade poster in front of the UN headquarters in New York to welcome Mr Modi. AFP

People gather near UN headquarters to welcome Mr Modi. AP

Mr Modi attends a yoga event on the International Day of Yoga, hosted at the UN. AFP

Mr Modi, seen on screen, leads a yoga session. AFP

Mr Modi waves to the crowd after participating in a yoga class. EPA

Mr Modi gestures to participants as he arrives at the ninth International Day of Yoga event. Reuters

Mr Modi shakes hand with Tesla chief executive Elon Musk during their meeting in New York. Reuters

Mr Modi greets supporters as he arrives in New York. AP

Supporters dance ahead of the arrival of Mr Modi in New York. Reuters

The flags of India and the US adorn the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington. AP

President Joe Biden this week welcomes India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a state visit aimed at deepening Washington's ties with New Delhi, but the visit has raised concerns among some US politicians.

Some are unhappy that the head of India's Hindu nationalist party, which has a history of anti-Muslim discrimination, has been invited to address Congress, despite India being a “critical strategic partner”.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the US sees India, the world's biggest democracy, as an important partner in tackling some of the most pressing global challenges, including climate change, cyber security and China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific.

The goal of the visit will also aim to improve co-operation on defence.

“You're going to see over the course of this week, the leaders will speak for themselves about some of the ways we're going to specifically improve and deepen defence co-operation,” Mr Kirby said.

“As a combined force for global good, India will be a critical strategic partner for the US in the coming decades.”

He added that India is committed to playing a more engaged international role, including in the Indo-Pacific “Quad” group, which also includes the US, Japan and Australia.

Mr Modi arrived in the US on Tuesday for his four-day official visit, which will include a state dinner with Mr Biden and first lady Jill Biden on Thursday in addition to his invitation to address Congress.

On Wednesday, he will lead celebrations of the International Day of Yoga at UN Headquarters in New York.

Mr Kirby said the two leaders will have “wide-ranging discussions” and that the visit will result in “deliverables” on global health, climate change, emerging technology and cyber security.

The visit comes at a time when Mr Biden has been working on strengthening US-India ties as his administration has been looking to build relationships to counter China's growing influence in Asia.

It also comes as the Biden administration has grown increasingly frustrated with India's stance on the Ukraine war, which has included participating in military exercises with Russia and continuing to buy crude oil from Moscow, a critical source of funding for the war.

The visit is also problematic for Mr Biden, a Democrat who has pledged to confront human rights abuses around the world as part of his foreign policy objectives.

Mr Modi has faced criticism over growing violence against Muslims and other religious minorities by Hindu nationalists, making amendments to the nation's citizenship laws that speeds up naturalisation for some migrants but leaves out Muslims.

He has also been criticised over the recent conviction of opposition leader Rahul Ghandi for making comments about Mr Modi's surname.

“Prime Minister Modi is at the forefront of a government that grossly violates the human rights of India’s religious minority communities, particularly Muslims, through the promotion and enforcement of state and national-level laws that promote a Hindu-nationalist agenda,” the US-based Muslim Public Affairs Council wrote in a recent op-ed.

“This celebratory, official invitation to Prime Minister Modi raises concerns regarding the foundation of the United States’ core principles and constitutional values based on the protection of human rights.”

On Tuesday, a group of more than 70 Democrats from both the House and the Senate wrote an open letter calling on Mr Biden to make human rights a focus of his discussion with Mr Modi.

Several Muslim members of Congress also said they would not be attending Mr Modi's speech.

The Indian government has defended its human rights record and says it is committed to upholding democracy in the country.

“President Biden and Mr Modi will have wide ranging discussions,” Mr Kirby said. “Some issues are always easier to talk about than others, but that's what partners do.”