After solid, half-day of parleys on economic policy, counterterrorism cooperation and much more, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to have felt relief during lunch with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Vice President Joseph Biden.
Although Mr. Modi was unable, owing to his Navratri fast, to savour the fare prepared by Indian-American chef Vikram Sunderam, that did not come in the way of the Prime Minister and his two hosts reaffirming their mutual warmth and confidence that the bilateral relationship would work through ups and downs towards ultimate success as it had done in the past.
In doing so, State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki said, “They all sort of laughed at the jokes they tried during their remarks, some funnier than others, always – that’s always true.” She, however, did not confirm whether India had made any commitments to the U.S. in the context of Mr. Obama’s need to build an alliance for the fight against the Islamic State jihadist militants in Syria and Iraq.
Mr. Kerry alluded to the Prime Minister’s ultra-popular community reception at Madison Square Garden in New York on Sunday, saying, “Billy Joel called me this morning to make sure you hadn’t taken his regular gig there.”
Highlighting the Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas policy agenda identified by Mr. Modi, Mr. Kerry reiterated some of the key areas of bilateral cooperation that could help achieve this, saying, “We’re already working together in a crucial number of efforts. Already today our two navies are safeguarding vital trade routes off the Horn of Africa. Today, our engineers are retrofitting telecom networks to run on solar power together. Our scientists are developing new drugs to treat malaria. Our businesses are trading more together – a fivefold increase since the year 2000.”
Mr. Modi referenced what he may believe are core differences between India and the U.S., saying, “There are certain problems. You use a system which is 120-volts, and we use 220-volt system in India. So 120 and 220 – when you have to bring them together and the difference in the energy which is there, so we’ll have to undertake necessary steps in order to bring it together, and I’m sure we’ll succeed in it.”
It was ultimately however Mr. Biden who sprang a special surprise on his guests. Starting out by saying, “Happy Navratri, Mr. Prime Minister. ,” he added “The Irish part of me is hard to admit, but was an English sea captain who settled and lived in India, and there are three Biden families in Mumbai. So I’m going home with you, Prime Minister.”
After the lunch and a few final meetings Mr. Modi was set to leave for India via Andrews Air Force base.
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