He did not address critics’ allegations of human rights abuses during his second visit to a joint meeting of Congress.
While addressing a joint meeting of Congress on Thursday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his country is “the mother of democracy,” comments that stood in contrast to his critics’ claims that India’s government has undermined democratic principles.
Lawmakers welcomed Modi to the House chamber warmly, giving him a loud standing ovation. Some in the gallery chanted his name as lawmakers lined up to shake his hand as he made his way toward the dais. The prime minister was escorted into the room by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).
Modi, in his remarks, celebrated the “bond between the world’s two great democracies,” and noted that the United States has the “oldest” democracy, and India the “largest.”
“Together we shall give a better future to the world and a better world to the future,” Modi said, to applause from the chamber.
Modi opened his remarks by noting that it was an “exceptional privilege” to speak to Congress again. He first delivered an address to a joint meeting of Congress in 2016. Flanked by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Vice President Harris, Modi said “a lot has changed since I came here seven summers ago.”
“But a lot has remained the same, like our commitment to deepen the friendship between India and the United States,” he said.
While many members of Congress gave Modi a warm welcome, some House Democrats — including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Greg Casar (Tex.), Rashida Tlaib (Mich.) and Jamaal Bowman (N.Y.) — skipped the prime minister’s speech, citing his record on human rights.
