Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met Nobel laureate and Myanmar’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who described India as her “second home”, recalling the years she spent in the country.
It was Mr. Modi’s first interaction with the 69–year–old pro–democracy icon.
The Prime Minister referred to Ms. Suu Kyi as a “symbol of democracy”, referring to the enormous efforts made by her for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar, long ruled by military junta.
After the meeting, Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Syed Akbaruddin tweeted: “India is my second home — Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to @PMOIndia.”
He told reporters that Ms. Suu Kyi was effusive in her praise of India. She told Mr. Modi that India was the first country to which she travelled from Burma, which was the old name of Myanmar. The opposition leader also underscored the importance of stability going hand in hand with democracy.
The Prime Minister presented Ms. Suu Kyi with a special copy of Mahatma Gandhi’s commentary on Bhagwad Gita.
Asked by a journalist whether the Prime Minister had extended an invitation to the Myanmar leader to visit India, the spokesperson said, “The invitation to Aung San Suu Kyi to visit India is always available as no one invites one to her second home.”
