This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/25/indian-pm-narendra-modi-us-visit

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Indian PM Narendra Modi prepares for US visit Indian PM Narendra Modi prepares for US visit
(about 3 hours later)
Narendra Modi, the Hindu nationalist politician who won power in India in May in a landslide election, arrives in New York on Friday for a gruelling schedule of more than 50 speeches, rallies, interviews, meetings and business breakfasts aimed at rebooting an often troubled relationship with the US.Narendra Modi, the Hindu nationalist politician who won power in India in May in a landslide election, arrives in New York on Friday for a gruelling schedule of more than 50 speeches, rallies, interviews, meetings and business breakfasts aimed at rebooting an often troubled relationship with the US.
Highlights include a private dinner with Barack Obama and an appearance at Madison Square Garden in front of a sell-out crowd of Indian Americans and Indian nationals in the US.Highlights include a private dinner with Barack Obama and an appearance at Madison Square Garden in front of a sell-out crowd of Indian Americans and Indian nationals in the US.
“I have seen and met many Indian prime ministers when they come to India but never seen anything like this. This is unheard of, historic,” said Jeevan Zutshi, a 66-year-old India-born engineer who is travelling from his home in Freemont, California, to New York.“I have seen and met many Indian prime ministers when they come to India but never seen anything like this. This is unheard of, historic,” said Jeevan Zutshi, a 66-year-old India-born engineer who is travelling from his home in Freemont, California, to New York.
After two days in the city, where Modi will address the United Nations general assembly and visit the 9/11 memorial, he will then head to Washington for a private lunch with the US vice-president, Joe Biden, and dinner with Obama. Both are likely to be frugal as Modi, a devout Hindu, will be fasting for the annual religious festival of Navatri. After two days in the city, during which Modi will address the United Nations general assembly and visit the 9/11 memorial, he will then head to Washington for a private lunch with the US vice-president, Joe Biden, and dinner with Obama. Both are likely to be frugal meals as Modi, a devout Hindu, will be fasting for the annual religious festival of Navratri.
After an improvement a decade ago, and a controversial nuclear deal, relations between Delhi and Washington hit a low last year when the Indian deputy consul-general in the US was arrested for visa fraud in New York, strip-searched and held in police custody. The affair prompted a vitriolic reaction in India to what was seen as disrespectful bullying. This in turn prompted US commentators to accuse India of oversensitivity and behaviour unbecoming of an aspirant future power. After an improvement a decade ago, and a controversial nuclear deal, relations between Delhi and Washington hit a low last year when the Indian deputy consul-general in the US was arrested for visa fraud in New York, strip-searched and held in police custody. The affair prompted a vitriolic reaction in India to what was seen as disrespectful bullying. This in turn prompted US commentators to accuse India of over-sensitivity and behaviour unbecoming of an aspirant future power.
Since then the government has changed in Delhi and Washington has mounted a “charm offensive”, Michael Kugelman, a south Asia expert at the Woodrow Wilson International Centre in Washington, said. Since then the government has changed in Delhi and Washington has mounted a “charm offensive”, said Michael Kugelman, a south Asia expert at the Woodrow Wilson International Centre in Washington.
“For Washington, and for Obama specifically, it’s really about simply getting to know someone they don’t know much about. The relationship has hit rock bottom so the only way is up. Everyone is looking for some good news out of this,” Kugelman said.“For Washington, and for Obama specifically, it’s really about simply getting to know someone they don’t know much about. The relationship has hit rock bottom so the only way is up. Everyone is looking for some good news out of this,” Kugelman said.
Both India and the US are seeking to balance the rise of China in the Asia-Pacific region. Both India and the US are seeking to counter-balance the rise of China in the Asia-Pacific region.
Xi Jinping, the Chinese premier, made his first trip to India last week where he announced $20bn of investment. The visit however was seen as disappointing by some commentators and came amid renewed tensions on the contested Himalayan border between the two powers. Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, made his first trip to India last week, where he announced $20bn (£12.2bn) of investment. The visit was seen as disappointing by some commentators, however, and came amid renewed tensions on the contested Himalayan border between the two powers.
“The US and India are two big democracies, the biggest in the world, so we are natural allies. We are at a crossroads in Indian relations with America,” said Zutshi, who heads the Indo-American Community Foundation and is one of a handful of diaspora figures invited to a personal meeting with Modi on Saturday. “The US and India are two big democracies, the biggest in the world, so we are natural allies. We are at a crossroads in Indian relations with America,” said Zutshi, who heads the Indo-American Community Foundation and is one of a handful of diaspora figures invited to a meeting with Modi on Saturday.
The main goal for Modi in New York and Washington appears economic however. The main goal for Modi in New York and Washington appears economic rather than diplomatic, however.
Modi won the first outright majority in Indian politics for 30 years after pledging to boost flagging growth in the emerging power where red tape, corruption, poor infrastructure and restrictive laws remain major challenges to business.Modi won the first outright majority in Indian politics for 30 years after pledging to boost flagging growth in the emerging power where red tape, corruption, poor infrastructure and restrictive laws remain major challenges to business.
Meetings have been arranged with 17 US corporate leaders including heads of Google, IBM, Goldman Sachs and Boeing, aides said. Meetings have been arranged with 17 US corporate leaders including the heads of Google, IBM, Goldman Sachs and Boeing, aides said.
For Modi the trip marks a personal triumph too. In 2005 the politician was denied a visa to the US under a 1998 law barring entry to foreigners who have committed “particularly severe violations of religious freedom”.For Modi the trip marks a personal triumph too. In 2005 the politician was denied a visa to the US under a 1998 law barring entry to foreigners who have committed “particularly severe violations of religious freedom”.
The decision followed accusations that he had stood by, or even encouraged rioters, during sectarian violence in the western state of Gujarat in 2002, when he was chief minister. More than 1,000 people, largely Muslims, were killed. The decision followed accusations that he had stood by during, or even encouraged, sectarian violence in the western state of Gujarat in 2002, when he was chief minister. More than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed by rioters.
The 64-year-old has denied all wrongdoing and India’s supreme court has ruled there is insufficient evidence to back the charges against him. The 64-year-old has denied all wrongdoing and India’s supreme court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to back the charges against him.
The UK ended its boycott of Modi in 2012. The European Union swiftly followed, with the US ambassador only meeting the prime ministerial candidate for the first time earlier this year.The UK ended its boycott of Modi in 2012. The European Union swiftly followed, with the US ambassador only meeting the prime ministerial candidate for the first time earlier this year.
Close aides of Modi have described how, around a year before his electoral victory, he rejected suggestions that he should lobby to end the visa ban and boycott, arguing that Washington would “come to him” when the time was right. Close aides of Modi have described how, about a year before his electoral victory, he rejected suggestions that he should lobby to end the visa ban and boycott, arguing that Washington would “come to him” when the time was right.
Kugelman said the life story of Modi - a former tea-seller who came from humble origins to win power in a nation of 1.25 billion – would play well in the US. Kugelman said the life story of Modi – a former tea-seller who came from humble origins to win power in a nation of 1.25 billion people – would play well in the US.
”Obama will highlight his background ... the US government is going to be looking for hooks to sell Modi. What with the Middle East and the Ukraine, this is an opportunity to step away from the bad news,” the analyst said. “Obama will highlight his background ... the US government is going to be looking for hooks to sell Modi. What with the Middle East and the Ukraine, this is an opportunity to step away from the bad news,” the analyst said.
Though the visit is not expected to result in any major announcements, there is a possibility of some kind of compromise to allow a deal put together during the most recent round of World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations to go ahead.Though the visit is not expected to result in any major announcements, there is a possibility of some kind of compromise to allow a deal put together during the most recent round of World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations to go ahead.
Delhi recently chose to block a key pact, which had broad global support, that would have streamlined customs procedures and boosted international commerce in order to defend its food subsidy programme. Delhi recently chose to block a key pact, which had broad global support, that would have streamlined customs procedures and boosted international commerce to defend India’s food subsidy programme.
Syed Akbaruddin, spokesman for the Indian foreign ministry, said Modi and Obama would discuss the WTO deal, the future of Afghanistan and the global fight against militant groups such as al-Qaida and Islamic State. Al-Qaida recently declared the formation of an Indian branch. Syed Akbaruddin, from the Indian foreign ministry, said Modi and Obama would discuss the WTO deal, the future of Afghanistan and the global fight against militant groups such as al-Qaida and Islamic State. Al-Qaida recently announced it had formed an Indian branch.
Modi is also likely to raise India’s long-held ambition to gain a permanent seat on the UN security council.Modi is also likely to raise India’s long-held ambition to gain a permanent seat on the UN security council.
The biggest impact of the trip will come from the opportunity given to a newly confident Indian diaspora in the US to display its wealth, influence and energy.The biggest impact of the trip will come from the opportunity given to a newly confident Indian diaspora in the US to display its wealth, influence and energy.
Indian Americans make up about 1% of the US population and are significantly better educated and twice as well off as an average household, according to latest US Census Bureau data. Indian Americans make up about 1% of the US population and are significantly better educated and twice as well off as the average household, according to latest US Census Bureau data.
Transport authorities in New York are laying on extra trains on Sunday morning to handle crowds heading to Madison Square Garden or planning to watch Modi’s Hindi-language speech on screens set up outside the venue. Transport authorities in New York are laying on extra trains on Sunday morning to handle crowds heading to Madison Square Garden or planning to watch Modi’s Hindi-language speech on screens outside the venue.
Funds for the event were raised in just days, Indian media reported.Funds for the event were raised in just days, Indian media reported.
Modi will be preceded at the New York’s most famous venue by the rapper Pitbull and followed, after an interval of three days, by crooner Billy Joel. Modi will be preceded as a headliner at New York’s most famous venue by the rapper Pitbull and followed, three days later, by the crooner Billy Joel.
• This article was amended on 25 September 2014. It mistakenly referred to the Hindi festival of Navatri. This has now been corrected