India’s prime minister denied that discrimination against minorities exists under his government during a rare press conference with U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday, although rights groups and State Department reports of abuses. Asked at the press conference what steps he was willing to take to “improve the rights of Muslims and other minorities in your country and uphold free speech,” Modi responded that a democracy cannot be called a democracy if it does not protect human rights.
The question came after multiple Democratic lawmakers had asked Biden to raise the issue of religious intolerance in India with Modi, who is visiting the United States on a state visit. Some 75 senators and members of Congress had written to Biden, urging him to bring up the topic in his meeting with Modi. They said they saw troubling signs of shrinking political space, increased religious intolerance, and growing restrictions on freedom of expression in the country.
Biden, a former governor of Delaware and an attorney, was asked about his experiences in practicing law and his views on the issue of religious discrimination. He defended the record of his Democratic Party, which was known for supporting civil rights and minority issues in the United States, saying that he “really cared about the people who were not doing well.” He also argued that his political opponents often used discriminatory language when challenging him as a statewide office candidate.
After the press conference, Modi sat down with Biden for talks in the Oval Office that were hailed as an essential step in the countries’ strategic partnership. They discussed economic and security issues and agreed to deepen cooperation on counterterrorism, defense, energy, and technology. They also discussed India’s ambitious National Health Insurance program, which provides free treatment for 500 million people. The two leaders also agreed to expand their companies’ footprint in each other’s markets, with Modi urging the U.S. to invest more in India’s infrastructure and agriculture sectors.
The Indian leader also pushed for more significant economic ties with the West Asia and North Africa region, saying that it is vital to India’s future. They also agreed to expand cooperation in renewable energy, critical minerals, telecommunications, and quantum computing.
Modi then addressed a joint session of Congress, where he was warmly embraced by Republicans and Democrats alike. But he was set to face challenges when he addressed a state dinner later in the evening, where several lawmakers were planning to boycott because they were concerned about his leadership. Earlier, he defended his record in the face of calls to resign, insisting that he is committed to democracy and human rights. He insisted that his critics were motivated by hatred and a desire to isolate India. He said that they were trying to derail India’s rise and that he would not let them succeed. He vowed that his government would continue to focus on delivering on the needs of its people, and he added: “I will not stop until India has reached its full potential.”
