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• International Visits & Summits --> International Visits & Summits --> International Visits & Summits

International Visits & Summits

Recent summits.

November 30, 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the COP28 Summit in Dubai, at the invitation of President of UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. During his visit PM Modi launched Green Credit initiative. He also held bilateral talks with several world leaders on the sidelines of the Summit.

September 08, 2023

G20 Summit is being held at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi, India, from 9-10 September 2023. Heads of States and leaders of member nations as well as special invitees are joining the Summit in Delhi. PM Modi will be chairing the Summit. He will also hold several bilateral meetings with world leaders on the sidelines of the Summit.

September 06, 2023

PM Modi visited Jakarta, Indonesia from 6-7 September 2023 and took part in the ASEAN-India Summit as well as the East Asia Summit. During the Summit, PM Modi held extensive discussions with other leaders on key issues of global concern.

BRICS Summit 2023

August 22, 2023.

PM Modi visited South Africa from 22 to 25 August, where he took part in the BRICS Summit, in Johannesburg. He also took part in the BRICS-Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue events. During the visit, PM also held bilateral meetings with several world leaders.

May 19, 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Hiroshima, Japan to attend the G7 Summit under the Japanese Presidency at the invitation of H.E. Mr. Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan. During the visit, the PM held bilateral meetings with some of the leaders attending the Hiroshima G7 Summit.

September 15, 2022

PM Modi visited Samarkand at the invitation of President of Uzbekistan H.E. Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev to attend the SCO Summit. PM Modi emphasised the constructive role the grouping can play in the post-COVID era particularly in furthering economic recovery and strengthening supply chains. The PM also held bilateral meetings with the leaders of Uzbekistan, Turkey, Russia and Iran in the sidelines of the Summit.

India-Nordic Summit

May 01, 2022.

During Denmark visit, PM Modi took part in the 2nd India-Nordic Summit along with Prime Ministers of Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Norway. The Summit focused on subjects like post-pandemic economic recovery, climate change, innovation and technology, renewable energy, the evolving global security scenario and India-Nordic cooperation in the Arctic region.

November 02, 2021

PM Modi visited Glasgow to attend the 26th Conference of Parties (COP-26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). He participated in the high-level segment of COP-26. PM Modi also launched the IRIS initiative.

Eastern Economic Forum

September 03, 2021.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a video-address during the plenary session of the 6th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) held on 3 September 2021 in Vladivostok. PM stressed on the importance of greater economic and commercial engagement between the two sides in line with the ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’.

BIMSTEC Summit 2018

August 30, 2018.

PM Narendra Modi took part in the 4th BIMSTEC Summit at Kathmandu on 30th and 31st August. The Summit focused on the theme ‘Towards a Peaceful, Prosperous and Sustainable Bay of Bengal Region.’ On the sidelines of the Summit, the PM held productive talks with several world leaders. PM Modi met PM KP Sharma Oli and reviewed India-Nepal bilateral relations. PM Modi and PM Oli also inaugurated the Nepal-Bharat Maitri Dharamshala at the Pashupatinath Temple Complex.

Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting

April 19, 2018.

On 19th and 20th April, PM Modi took part in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Discussions pertaining to several global and regional issues were held. The PM also met several Heads of States on the sidelines of the Meeting.

World Economic Forum

January 22, 2018.

PM Narendra Modi delivered the historic inaugural address at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He pitched for India as an investment destination, emphasising on efforts to improve the ease of doing business. Highlighting India’s growing influence in the global economy, PM Modi recalled that in 1997, when an Indian Prime Minister last attended the WEF, the country’s GDP was a bit over $400 billion. “Two decades later, the country’s GDP has multiplied over six times,” he said.

Nuclear Security Summit 2016

March 31, 2016.

PM Narendra Modi visited Washington DC on 31st March. He participated in the 4th Nuclear Security Summit. PM held discussions on the crucial issue of threat to nuclear security caused by nuclear terrorism. On the sidelines of the summit, PM Narendra Modi met several world leaders to carry forward the agenda of bilateral cooperation with those nations. Shri Modi also interacted with the scientists associated with LIGO project.

EU-India summit

PM Narendra Modi visited Brussels on March 30. Shri Modi met and held talks with Belgian PM Charles Michel. He held the 13th India-EU Summit with the E.U. leadership. PM Modi and Belgian PM Michel also remotely activated the India-Belgium ARIES (Aryabhatta Research Institute for Observational Sciences) Telescope. Shri Modi met Members of European Parliament (MEPs), Indologists, Belgian CEOs and Board Members of the Association of Diamond Traders. Shri Modi also interacted with the Indian community. The visit was aimed at expanding trade, investment and high technology partnership with Belgium.

SAARC Summit

November 25, 2015.

PM Narendra Modi attended the 18th SAARC Summit in Kathmandu, Nepal in November 2014. PM Modi pressed for better connectivity and enhanced cooperation among the SAARC nations. He held various bilateral meetings with the leaders of SAARC region. PM Narendra Modi was also complimented for his initiative of the SAARC satellite.

November 26, 2015

India hosted the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit from October 26-October 29, 2015. It was one of the largest events as leaders and representatives from 54 nations of Africa gathered together under one roof. PM Narendra Modi welcomed the leaders, held bilateral meetings and deliberated upon strengthening India’s relationship with African countries in the times ahead.

September 24, 2015

PM Narendra Modi attended G4 Summit hosted by India on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York during his visit to the USA. It brought together heads of four countries under one roof. Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, PM Shinzo Abe of Japan, President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff and PM Modi together pressed for urgent reforms in the UN Security Council.

FIPIC Summit

August 20, 2015.

In August 2015, India hosted the second FIPIC Summit. PM Narendra Modi held bilateral meetings with various leaders of the Pacific Nations. The leaders of Pacific Nations expressed strong support for the UN reforms and India’s candidature for the permanent membership of a reformed UN Security Council. PM Modi extended India’s full support to Pacific Island countries for disaster mitigation.

Modi in Bhutan

March 22, 2024.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Bhutan from 22-23 March 2024. The visit was aimed at further strengthening ties with the friendly neighbouring country. During the visit, PM Modi held talks with HM the King, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, PM Tshering Tobgay as well as met HM the fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck. PM Modi was also …

February 14, 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a visit to Qatar. He received a ceremonial welcome in Doha. During his visit, he held bilateral talks with HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and discussed various important issues. He also had a meeting with the Prime Minister of Qatar, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, to discuss matters of mutual …

February 13, 2024

PM Modi visited Abu Dhabi, UAE where he took part in numerous programmes. The PM held bilateral meeting with UAE President HH Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, took part in the Ahlan Modi event and inaugurated the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi. The PM also addressed the World Governments Summit in Dubai.

August 25, 2023

On 25th August PM Modi visited Athens, Greece. He met President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, who conferred upon PM Modi ‘The Grand Cross of the Order of Honour’. PM Modi also held talks with PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis as well as interacted with the Indian community there.

July 13, 2023

PM Modi embarked on a successful visit to France. PM Modi attended the Bastille Day Celebrations as the 'Guest of Honour' and also addressed the CEO Business Forum. He also received the prestigious ‘Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour’ by President Macron.

June 24, 2023

Prime Minister Modi visited Cairo, Egypt at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. He held talks with President Sisi and senior members of the Egyptian Government as well as interact with the vibrant Indian diaspora in Egypt. The PM also visited the Pyramids in Egypt.

June 20, 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to the USA on a State Visit at the invitation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. PM Modi attended programmes in New York City and Washington DC which include Yoga Day celebrations at the UN HQ, talks with President Biden, address to the Joint Session of the US Congress and more.

May 22, 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited to Sydney, Australia at the invitation of Prime Minister Albanese. He interacted with Australian CEOs and business leaders, and addressed the Indian community in Sydney at a special event.

Papua New Guinea

May 21, 2023.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. This was his first visit, as also the first ever visit by any Indian Prime Minister, to Papua New Guinea. He chaired the FIPIC III Summit jointly with H.E. Mr. James Marape, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea. PM Modi will also held bilateral interactions with PM Marape.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Tokyo to attend the State Funeral of former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe. The PM also held talks with PM Fumio Kishida during the visit.

May 16, 2022

PM Modi visited Lumbini in Nepal on 16 May 2022. PM Modi offered prayers at the Mayadevi Temple as well as took part in Shilanyas ceremony of India International Centre for Buddhist Culture & Heritage. He also addressed a programme on Buddha Jayanti.

May 03, 2022

PM Modi had a fruitful visit to Copenhagen, Denmark from May 3-4, 2022 at the invitation of PM Frederiksen. He participated in the India-Denmark Business Roundtable as well as interacted with the Indian community in Denmark. PM Modi also took part in the 2nd India-Nordic Summit along with Prime Ministers of Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden …

May 02, 2022

PM Modi had a productive visit to Berlin, Germany on May 2, 2022. He took part in the 6th India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations with Chancellor Olaf Scholz. PM Modi also interacted with Indian community during the visit.

March 26, 2021

At the invitation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Bangladesh on March 26 & 27, 2021. During the visit, Prime Minister attended the National Day programme of Bangladesh on March 26, as the guest of honour. The visit of the Prime Minister to Bangladesh was the first visit to a foreign country since the …

Saudi Arabia

October 29, 2019.

PM Modi visited Saudi Arabia on 29 October 2019. During the visit, PM held extensive discussions with His Majesty the King of Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince HRH Mohammed bin Salman. The PM also addressed the Future Investment Initiative Forum in Riyadh.

August 24, 2019

PM Modi visited the Kingdom of Bahrain from 24-25, August 2019. This was the first ever Prime Ministerial visit from India to the Kingdom. PM Modi held talks with Prime Minister His Royal Highness Prince Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and other leaders. He also interacted with the Indian diaspora.

June 09, 2019

At the invitation of President Maithripala Sirisena, PM Narendra Modi visited Colombo, Sri Lanka on 9th June 2019. The PM visited the St. Anthony's Shrine and paid homage to those who lost their lives during the cowardly terror attack on Easter. The PM held wide ranging talks with the President, PM and other leaders in Sri Lanka.

Modi in Maldives

June 08, 2019.

PM Narendra Modi visited Maldives on 08 June 2019 at the invitation of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. The PM’s Maldives visit was aimed at further strengthening India’s ties with the maritime neighbour, in line with ‘Neighbourhood-First Policy’ and the vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region. PM Modi was also conferred the …

Modi in South Korea

February 20, 2019.

PM Narendra Modi visited the Republic of Korea at the invitation of President Moon Jae-in. During this visit, PM Modi held crucial talks with President Moon, he met with business leaders and members of the Indian community.

Modi In South Africa

July 25, 2018.

From 25-27 July, PM Modi attended the BRICS Summit in South Africa. On the margins of the summit, the Prime Minister also hold bilateral meeting with the South African President and other leaders.

Modi in Uganda

July 24, 2018.

PM Modi visited Uganda during 24-25 July. The PM held productive talks with President Kaguta Museveni of Uganda and also delivered a Keynote address at the Parliament of Uganda. Shri Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to address the Ugandan Parliament.

Modi in Rwanda

July 23, 2018.

PM Modi visited Republic of Rwanda during 23-24 July. This was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Rwanda. He held bilateral meeting with President of Rwanda, held talks with business community. PM visited the Genocide Memorial and participated in an event on "Girinka” (one cow per family), a national social protection scheme of …

Modi in Singapore

November 23, 2018.

PM Modi’s Singapore visit was aimed at enhancing India-Singapore partnership in multiple sectors. During his visit, the Prime Minister met Singapore President Halimah Yacob, held talks with PM Lee Hsien Loong and interacted with the business community. Shri Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to deliver the keynote address at Shangri-…

Modi in Indonesia

May 29, 2018.

During his first bilateral visit to Indonesia, PM Narendra Modi held extensive talks with President Joko Widodo and deliberated on ways to further enhance cooperation between both the countries in host of sectors. The Prime Minister also interacted with Indian community in Indonesia during his visit.

Modi in Russia

May 21, 2018.

PM Modi and President Putin of Russia held productive discussions and they reviewed the complete range of India-Russia relations as well as other global subjects during their first ever informal summit in the Black Sea coastal city of Sochi. The leaders also visited the Sirius Education Centre and interacted with session students.

Modi in China

April 26, 2018.

PM Modi visited Wuhan, China on 27-28 April 2018 for an Informal Summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. PM Modi and President Xi exchanged views on a range of issues of bilateral and global importance. The leaders reviewed the developments in India-China relations from a strategic and long-term perspective.

April 16, 2018

PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the UK was aimed at enhancing India-UK partnership in the areas of healthcare, innovation, digitization, electric mobility, clean energy, and cyber security. The PM held wide ranging talks with PM Theresa May. He met HM The Queen, interacted with leading CEOs of the two nations, launched an Ayurveda Centre of …

Modi in Sweden

PM Modi, during his bilateral visit to Sweden, held productive talks with Swedish PM Stefan Lofven. PM Modi interacted with leading business leaders. The PM also met His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden. India and Sweden jointly organized the India-Nordic Summit in Stockholm on 17th April with the Prime Ministers of Finland, Norway,…

February 11, 2018

PM Modi visited Oman on 11-12 February. He met HM the Sultan Qaboos of Oman, Deputy PM for the Council of Ministers HH Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said and Deputy PM for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs HH Sayyid Asa'ad bin Tariq Al Said. The PM also interacted with Indian community at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat, …

February 09, 2018

PM Modi paid a historic visit to Palestine on February 10th after transiting though Jordan where he met HM King Abdullah II. In Palestine’s Ramallah, PM Modi met President Mahmoud Abbas. India and Palestine agreed to deepen ties in key sectors such as technology, training and infrastructure development. During his visit, the PM was conferred ‘…

September 05, 2017

PM Narendra Modi visited Myanmar from September 5-7, 2017. This was his first bilateral visit to Myanmar. PM Modi met H.E. U Htin Kyaw, President of Myanmar. Prime Minister held wide-ranging discussions with State Councillor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on matters of regional cooperation. Giving a fillip to cultural ties between both countries, the PM …

July 04, 2017

PM Modi paid a historic visit to Israel from 4-6 July upon invitation of PM Netanyahu. It was the first ever visit by any Indian Prime Minister to Israel. PM Modi held wide-ranging talks with President Rivlin and PM Netanyahu. He interacted with Israeli CEOs and discussed scope of expanding businesses in India. He also visited Yad Vashem …

Netherlands

June 28, 2017.

PM Modi visited the Netherlands on 27 June 2017. He met Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, called on King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima. The PM, in a meeting with CEOs of major Dutch companies, encouraged and invited them to explore opportunities in India. PM also interacted with Indian diaspora in the Hague.

June 24, 2017

PM Narendra Modi visited Portugal on 24 June 2017. PM Modi held talks with PM Antonio Costa and discussed ways to enhance the bilateral engagement, especially in the areas of economic cooperation, science & technology, space collaboration and people to people ties. Both the leaders also launched a unique Startup portal. PM also interacted with …

May 30, 2017

PM Modi visited Spain on 30th May on an official visit. He held a meeting with President Mariano Rajoy and discussed bilateral and other issues of mutual interest. As part of the programme, Prime Minister also met King Felipe VI of Spain. He joined Round-Table interaction with leading Spanish business leaders and invited them to explore …

September 02, 2016

PM Narendra Modi visited Vietnam to further cement the close bond between both countries. PM Modi held talks with Prime Minister of Vietnam Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc and the President of Vietnam, Mr. Tran Dai Quang. The PM also met several other leaders of Vietnam. Shri Modi paid homage to Ho Chi Minh, laid a wreath at the Monument of National …

July 04, 2016

PM Narendra Modi visited Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya from July 7-11. PM Modi held deliberations with President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique, South African President Jacob Zuma, President John Magufuli of Tanzania and President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya. PM Modi’s four-nation tour strengthened India’s ties with the African mainland …

June 09, 2016

Shri Narendra Modi paid a historic visit to Mexico making it the first Prime Ministerial visit in three decades. Shri Modi held talks with President of Mexico, Mr. Enrique Peña Nieto and held wide-ranging talks to enhance bilateral relations between both the countries.

Switzerland

June 06, 2016.

PM Modi had a bilateral meeting with the Swiss President Johann Schneider Ammann where Switzerland supported India’s bid to NSG. He also attended a meeting with the business leaders to enhance industry and trade relations between India and Switzerland. PM invited Swiss industrialists and business leaders to explore opportunities that India …

Afghanistan

June 04, 2016.

Prime Minister Modi visited Afghanistan on June 4th. Shri Modi jointly inaugurated the Afghan- India Friendship Dam with President Ashraf Ghani. PM also shared his views on the progress India was making and said that the world was seeing an India full of opportunities. PM was awarded with Amir Amanullah Khan Award, highest civilian honour of …

May 21, 2016

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Iran on May 21 and 22 at the invitation of President Rouhani. Shri Modi met Hon’ble Supreme Leader of Iran, President Rouhani and several other leaders. PM Modi's visit was aimed at enhancing connectivity, trade, investments, energy partnership, culture and people to people ties. The historic Chahbahar …

Recent Visits

Modi In Bhutan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Bhutan from 22-23 March 2024. The visit was aimed at further strengthening ties with the friendly neighbouring country. During the visit, PM Modi held talks with HM the King, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, PM Tshering Tobgay as well as met HM the fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck. PM Modi was also conferred the Order of the Druk Gyalpo, Bhutan's highest award.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a visit to Qatar. He received a ceremonial welcome in Doha. During his visit, he held bilateral talks with HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and discussed various important issues. He also had a meeting with the Prime Minister of Qatar, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, to discuss matters of mutual interest.

PM Modi had a fruitful visit to Copenhagen, Denmark from May 3-4, 2022 at the invitation of PM Frederiksen. He participated in the India-Denmark Business Roundtable as well as interacted with the Indian community in Denmark. PM Modi also took part in the 2nd India-Nordic Summit along with Prime Ministers of Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Norway.

At the invitation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Bangladesh on March 26 & 27, 2021. During the visit, Prime Minister attended the National Day programme of Bangladesh on March 26, as the guest of honour. The visit of the Prime Minister to Bangladesh was the first visit to a foreign country since the outbreak of the Covid pandemic. PM Modi also prayed at the Jeshoreshwari Kali Temple and visited Orakandi Thakurbari.

October 28, 2019

PM Narendra Modi visited Maldives on 08 June 2019 at the invitation of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. The PM’s Maldives visit was aimed at further strengthening India’s ties with the maritime neighbour, in line with ‘Neighbourhood-First Policy’ and the vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region. PM Modi was also conferred the highest honour of Maldives, the Nishan Izzuddeen.

South Korea

South Africa

PM Modi visited Republic of Rwanda during 23-24 July. This was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Rwanda. He held bilateral meeting with President of Rwanda, held talks with business community. PM visited the Genocide Memorial and participated in an event on "Girinka” (one cow per family), a national social protection scheme of Rwanda personally initiated by President Paul Kagame.

May 30, 2018

PM Modi’s Singapore visit was aimed at enhancing India-Singapore partnership in multiple sectors. During his visit, the Prime Minister met Singapore President Halimah Yacob, held talks with PM Lee Hsien Loong and interacted with the business community. Shri Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to deliver the keynote address at Shangri-La Dialogue. PM Modi also visited Clifford Pier, where Gandhiji’s ashes were immersed in sea on 27 March 1948.

PM Modi, during his bilateral visit to Sweden, held productive talks with Swedish PM Stefan Lofven. PM Modi interacted with leading business leaders. The PM also met His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden. India and Sweden jointly organized the India-Nordic Summit in Stockholm on 17th April with the Prime Ministers of Finland, Norway, Denmark and Iceland.

April 18, 2018

PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the UK was aimed at enhancing India-UK partnership in the areas of healthcare, innovation, digitization, electric mobility, clean energy, and cyber security. The PM held wide ranging talks with PM Theresa May. He met HM The Queen, interacted with leading CEOs of the two nations, launched an Ayurveda Centre of Excellence in London, and welcomed the UK into the International Solar Alliance, as its newest member.

PM Modi visited Oman on 11-12 February. He met HM the Sultan Qaboos of Oman, Deputy PM for the Council of Ministers HH Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said and Deputy PM for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs HH Sayyid Asa'ad bin Tariq Al Said. The PM also interacted with Indian community at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat, which is one of the largest in Oman.

PM Modi paid a historic visit to Palestine on February 10th after transiting though Jordan where he met HM King Abdullah II. In Palestine’s Ramallah, PM Modi met President Mahmoud Abbas. India and Palestine agreed to deepen ties in key sectors such as technology, training and infrastructure development. During his visit, the PM was conferred ‘Grand Collar of the State of Palestine'.

PM Narendra Modi visited Myanmar from September 5-7, 2017. This was his first bilateral visit to Myanmar. PM Modi met H.E. U Htin Kyaw, President of Myanmar. Prime Minister held wide-ranging discussions with State Councillor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on matters of regional cooperation. Giving a fillip to cultural ties between both countries, the PM also visited Ananda Temple, Shwedagon Pagoda, Kali bari Temple and Mazar of Bahadur Shah Zafar.

PM Modi paid a historic visit to Israel from 4-6 July upon invitation of PM Netanyahu. It was the first ever visit by any Indian Prime Minister to Israel. PM Modi held wide-ranging talks with President Rivlin and PM Netanyahu. He interacted with Israeli CEOs and discussed scope of expanding businesses in India. He also visited Yad Vashem Memorial Museum to honour the memory of the victims of the holocaust. Shri Modi also interacted with Indian diaspora in Tel Aviv.

June 27, 2017

PM Narendra Modi visited Portugal on 24 June 2017. PM Modi held talks with PM Antonio Costa and discussed ways to enhance the bilateral engagement, especially in the areas of economic cooperation, science & technology, space collaboration and people to people ties. Both the leaders also launched a unique Startup portal. PM also interacted with the Indian Community in Portugal during the visit.

PM Modi visited Spain on 30th May on an official visit. He held a meeting with President Mariano Rajoy and discussed bilateral and other issues of mutual interest. As part of the programme, Prime Minister also met King Felipe VI of Spain. He joined Round-Table interaction with leading Spanish business leaders and invited them to explore opportunities in Indian market.

PM Narendra Modi visited Vietnam to further cement the close bond between both countries. PM Modi held talks with Prime Minister of Vietnam Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc and the President of Vietnam, Mr. Tran Dai Quang. The PM also met several other leaders of Vietnam. Shri Modi paid homage to Ho Chi Minh, laid a wreath at the Monument of National Heroes and Martyrs and visited the Quan Su Pagoda.

PM Narendra Modi visited Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya from July 7-11. PM Modi held deliberations with President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique, South African President Jacob Zuma, President John Magufuli of Tanzania and President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya. PM Modi’s four-nation tour strengthened India’s ties with the African mainland in areas of trade, energy and defence and maritime cooperation.

PM Modi had a bilateral meeting with the Swiss President Johann Schneider Ammann where Switzerland supported India’s bid to NSG. He also attended a meeting with the business leaders to enhance industry and trade relations between India and Switzerland. PM invited Swiss industrialists and business leaders to explore opportunities that India presented today.

June 03, 2016

Prime Minister Modi visited Afghanistan on June 4th. Shri Modi jointly inaugurated the Afghan- India Friendship Dam with President Ashraf Ghani. PM also shared his views on the progress India was making and said that the world was seeing an India full of opportunities. PM was awarded with Amir Amanullah Khan Award, highest civilian honour of Afghanistan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Iran on May 21 and 22 at the invitation of President Rouhani. Shri Modi met Hon’ble Supreme Leader of Iran, President Rouhani and several other leaders. PM Modi's visit was aimed at enhancing connectivity, trade, investments, energy partnership, culture and people to people ties. The historic Chahbahar Agreement was also inked during the Prime Minister's visit. Shri Narendra Modi also visited Gurudwara in Tehran and inaugurated an International Conference on ‘retrospect and prospect’ of India and Iran relations.

November 21, 2015

PM Modi visited Malaysia from November 21to 23. He attended the ASEAN-India Summit and the 10th East Asia Summit. PM Modi met PM Najib Razak of Malaysia and discussed bilateral ties with him. Shri Modi and Mr. Razak jointly inaugurated the Torana Gate. The PM also visited Ramakrishna Mission and inaugurated a statue of Swami Vivekananda. Shri Modi interacted with Corporate Malaysia and invited them to invest in India. PM Modi also interacted with the Malay-Indian community during his visit. The PM also held bilateral meetings with Premier Li Keqiang of China and PM Shinzo Abe of Japan on the sidelines of the summits.

Central Asia

July 06, 2015.

On 6th July 2015 the PM Modi embarked on a tour to Central Asia. He visited Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The visit was historic and special because it was a significant effort to expand India’s cooperation with the Central Asian Nations on an unprecedented scale.

Social Buzz

May 17, 2015

PM Modi's visit to Mongolia was historic, path breaking & one that will take India's ties with Mongolia to spectacular heights. One-day visit by the Indian PM to the land of spiritual neighbour opened up broad avenues of partnership and cooperation between both the Nations.

April 15, 2015

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Canada from April 15th - April 16th. This was first standalone bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister in over four decades. Shri Modi held wide-range meetings with the Canadian counterpart Mr. Stephen Harper. The Prime Minister met top business leaders and industrialists in Ottawa and Toronto to deepen ties between both the nations. PM Shri Modi also addressed the Indian Diaspora in Toronto and paid a visit to Gurudwara Khalsa Diwan and Lakshmi Nayan Temple in Vancouver.

#3NationTour

March 11, 2015.

PM Modi visited Seychelles, Mauritius & Sri Lanka from 11-14 March 2015. The visit was successful in strengthening India’s ties with these friendly Nations. In Seychelles, PM met President Michel and held multiple deliberations with him. In Mauritius, PM addressed the Mauritius National Assembly and joined the ceremony to mark the commissioning of the Barracuda. In Sri Lanka the PM addressed the Parliament, visited the Mahabodhi Society and travel to Jaffna.

November 19, 2014

The visit was the first bilateral visit by a Prime Minister of India in 33 years. Shri Modi addressed the Parliament of Fiji. PM Modi also attended a 'Forum for India-Pacific Island cooperation' where he met leaders from Pacific islands nations.

December 21, 2015

The Prime Minister travelled to Brazil to attend the BRICS Summit in Fortaleza. The PM held extensive meetings with the other BRICS leaders and the leaders discussed a wide range of global issues. During the Summit it was decided to set up a BRICS bank and the first head of the Bank will be from India. 3 MoUs were signed between Brazil and India, after President Rousseff and PM Modi met. The Prime Minister also met leaders of various South American nations during the visit.

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Interactive | PM Narendra Modi’s foreign visit timeline: 18 countries, 55 days

Here's an interactive timeline that looks into the 18 countries that pm narendra modi visited in his first year in office..

In the span of last one year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited 18 countries, a majority of which were official state visits and spent close to 55 days abroad. His first foreign destination was the neighbouring Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, which has remained one of India’s closest allies for decades. His last foreign visit was to South Korea. Some of his important foreign visits include the United States of America, Japan, China, Germany and Sri Lanka. Nepal remains the only country that PM Modi has visited twice.

For a more broader look into which countries he visited, who he met and what he did there, here’s an interactive timeline that serves the purpose. Take a look.

[INTERACTIVE LOADING…]

TIMELINE TEXT

June 16-17, 2014 – Off to Bhutan – For his first foreign visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose Bhutan, India’s neighbour and closest ally for decades. During the visit, he met Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk and addressed a joint session of Parliament in Thimphu.

July 13-16, 2014 – The BRICS Summit – In a major multilateral visit to Brazil, PM Modi met the heads of some of the most powerful nations — China, Brazil, Russia and South Africa and got many of his ideas mentioned in the declaration.

August 3-4, 2014 – Road to Kathmandu – Reaffirming his focus on the SAARC nations, PM Modi chose Nepal as his destination for his second state visit. In Kathmandu, he addressed the national parliament and offered prayers at the Pashupatinath temple.

August 30-September 3, 2014 – The Japanese Bond – India’s ever strong bond with Japan got a fresh boost after PM Modi visited Kyoto and Tokyo in August-September. He met with Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe and visited two ancient Buddhist temples.

September 26-30, 2014 – Indo-US relations – Almost all eyes were on US as PM Modi made his way to Washington to hold talks with President Barack Obama on a historic state visit. He also addressed the UN General Assembly.

November 11-13, 2014 – East Asia Summit – PM Modi pushed for greater connectivity among nations at the India- ASEAN Summit and also held bilateral talks with President Thein Sein at Nay Pyi Taw.

November 14-18, 2014 – Trip Down Under – Narendra Modi became the first Indian PM to travel to Australia in 28 years. He attended the G-20 Summit, held talks with PM Tony Abbott and even took a selfie with him at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground.

November 19, 2014 – The Fiji connection – PM Modi announced a Rs 75 million credit line for Fiji as he made his way to Suva. The two countries also agreed to expand their defence and security cooperation.

November 25-27, 2014 – SAARC Summit – The Prime Minister made his second visit to Kathmandu to attend the SAARC Summit and raised the issue of terrorism in the presence of his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif .

March 10-11, 2015 – Off to Seychelles – Aiming to give a thrust towards developing strategic assets, PM Narendra Modi visited Victoria in the tiny island country of Seychelles and inked a pact to develop the infrastructure of Assumption island.

March 11-13, 2015 – Onward to Mauritius – New Delhi firmed up plans towards building strategic assets in Agalega in Mauritius after PM Modi’s visit to the island country.

March 13-14, 2015 – The Lankan trip – The first Indian PM to visit Sri Lanka after Rajiv Gandhi in 1987, Narendra Modi met newly-elected President Maithripala Sirisena in Colombo and travelled to the Tamil-majority Jaffna province.

March 29, 2015 – Goodbye Lee Kuan Yew – PM Modi joined other world leaders to bid goodbye to Singapore’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew. The Prime Minister called Lee one ‘among the tallest leaders of our times.’

April 9-12, 2015 – To Paris – France became the first leg of an extensive three-nation tour kickstarted by PM Modi. He signed a deal with France for supply of 36 Rafale jets in fly-away condition along with a railway protocol to develop a semi high-speed railway corridor.

April 12-14, 2015 – Next stop: Germany – Continuing his three-nation tour, PM Modi arrived in Berlin and held talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. He also inaugurated the India pavilion at the world-famous Hannover technological fair.

April 14-16, 2015 – The Canada Connection – Canada, which hosts a large Indian diaspora, was the third and final leg of PM Modi’s foreign tour. Canada signed a landmark agreement of long-term supply of Uranium to India.

May 14-16, 2015 – To China – PM Modi started his visit to China in Xi’an, the hometown of President Xi Jinping. The Prime Minister also visited Beijing and Shanghai and held extensive meetings with the top Chinese leadership and several business leaders.

May 16-17, 2015 – State visit to Mongolia – PM Modi announced a massive $1 billion credit line to Mongolia during his state visit there and asserted that Mongolia is an integral part of India’s Act East Policy.

May 18-19, 2015 – Off to South Korea – In the backdrop of PM Modi’s visit in Seoul, India and South Korea inked seven agreements, including on avoidance of double taxation and formalising consultations between National Security Councils of the two nations.

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Joint Statement: Visit of PM to the United Arab Emirates (February 13-14, 2024)

President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi met in Abu Dhabi on February 13, 2024. President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the UAE and expressed his appreciation for accepting the invitation to speak at the World Government Summit 2024 in Dubai on February 14, 2024.

The two leaders underlined that this was the seventh visit of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to the UAE in the last nine years. The Prime Minister last visited the UAE on December 1, 2023, to participate in the UNFCCC COP28 conference in Dubai, where he met with UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines. During that visit, India applauded the COP28 presidency for guiding the “COP for Action” and arriving at “The UAE Consensus.” The Prime Minister participated in the COP28 Presidency’s Session on “Transforming Climate Finance”, and together with the UAE President, co-hosted the high-level event on the ‘Green Credits Programme’ on the sidelines of Summit. The leaders also highlighted the four visits of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to India over the past eight years, the latest of which was on January 9-10, 2024, to attend the 10th edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, as Chief Guest, and during which he witnessed the exchange of several Memorandums of Understanding on Investment Cooperation, along with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

The two leaders discussed the India-UAE bilateral relationship, which was formally elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to India in 2017. They expressed satisfaction on the progress achieved in various sectors, noting that the partnership between the two countries has been significantly expanding over the years.

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi witnessed the exchange of the following:

• Bilateral Investment Treaty • Inter-Governmental Framework Agreement on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) • Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation on Digital Infrastructure Projects • Memorandum of Understanding in the field of Electricity Interconnection and Trade. • Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation with the National Maritime Heritage Complex, Lothal at Gujarat. • Cooperation Protocol between the National Library and Archives of the UAE and the National Archives of India. • Agreement on interlinking of the instant payment platforms – UPI (India) and AANI (UAE). • Agreement on inter-linking domestic debit/credit cards – RuPay (India) with JAYWAN (UAE).

Ahead of the visit , RITES Limited signed agreement with Abu Dhabi Ports Company and Gujarat Maritime Board with Abu Dhabi Ports Company. These would help in building port infrastructure and further enhance connectivity between the two countries.

The two leaders endorsed the efforts from both sides to strengthen the strong economic and commercial cooperation and explore new areas of collaboration. They welcomed the strong growth witnessed in the UAE-India trade relations since the entry into force of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on May 1, 2022. As a result, the UAE is India’s third-largest trading partner for the year 2022-23 and India’s second-largest export destination. India is the UAE’s second largest trading partner, with the bilateral trade rising to USD 85 billion in 2022-23. In this regard, the leaders expressed optimism regarding elevating the bilateral trade to USD 100 billion well ahead of the target year 2030. The two leaders also acknowledged the formal unveiling of the UAE-India CEPA Council (UICC), which stands as an important development in the bilateral trade partnership.

The leaders noted that the Bilateral Investment Treaty will be a key enabler for further promoting investments in both countries across sectors. The UAE was also the fourth largest investor in India in 2023 and the seventh largest source of Foreign Direct Investment overall. They highlighted that India has signed both the Bilateral Investment Treaty and a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the UAE, reflecting the uniqueness and depth of the bilateral economic engagement between the two countries.

The leaders underscored the importance of a well-functioning and equitable multilateral trading system in fostering global economic prosperity and resilience, and stressed the importance for the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference, taking place in Abu Dhabi from 26 to 29 February 2024, to achieve a meaningful outcome that serves the interests of all WTO Members and strengthens the rules-based trade order.

The leaders welcomed the decision to create Bharat Mart at Jebel Ali, which will further promote bilateral trade and serve as a platform for enhancing the utilization of CEPA by leveraging the strategic location of Jebel Ali port. They noted that Bharat Mart would support micro, small and medium sector enterprises from India by providing them an effective platform to reach out to international buyers and promote their products across Middle East, Africa, and Eurasia.

The leaders appreciated the deepening of economic engagement in the financial sector. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi congratulated His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the launch of the UAE’s domestic card scheme JAYWAN, leveraging on the digital RuPay stack shared by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) with the Central Bank of the UAE. They also welcomed the Agreement on interlinking the national payment platforms – UPI (India) and AANI (UAE), which will facilitate seamless cross-border transactions between the two countries.

The two leaders discussed ways to enhance their bilateral partnership in the energy sector, which includes oil, gas, and renewable energy. They acknowledged the recent signing of two new long-term LNG supply agreements between ADNOC Gas and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd and Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) for 1.2 MMTPA and 0.5 MMTPA, respectively. These agreements mark the beginning of a new era in the energy partnership between the two countries, and both leaders encouraged the companies to explore more such opportunities. Furthermore, the two sides agreed to advance their cooperation in hydrogen, solar energy, and grid connectivity.

The leaders acknowledged that the Memorandum of Understanding in the field of Electricity Interconnection and Trade signed today opens a new area of energy cooperation between the two countries, which will also bring to life the Green Grids – One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative launched during by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during COP26. . They expressed confidence that the MoU would further boost energy cooperation and connectivity between both countries.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi thanked President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his personal support and for his graciousness in granting the land for the construction of the BAPS Temple in Abu Dhabi. Both sides noted that the BAPS Temple is a celebration of UAE-India friendship, deep-rooted cultural bonds uniting the two nations, and also an embodiment of the UAE’s global commitment to harmony, tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

Both leaders noted that the cooperation protocol between the National Archives of the two countries and the MoU for cooperation with National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, Gujarat will help in restoring the centuries old roots of India-UAE relationship and preserving the treasures of shared history.

The two leaders appreciated the commencement of the first Master’s program in Energy Transition and Sustainability by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi in Abu Dhabi, the first IIT in the Middle East. They reiterated the shared commitment of both countries for cooperation in education and research with a focus on advanced technologies, Artificial Intelligence, and sustainable energy.

The two leaders reviewed the progress of establishing the UAE-India Culture Council Forum and the membership of the council from both sides. The two leaders also emphasized the role of cultural and knowledge diplomacy in shaping a deeper mutual understanding that benefits both nations.

The leaders welcomed the MoU for creation of an intergovernmental framework between India and UAE on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor IMEEC, which reflected the lead taken by the UAE and India in furthering regional connectivity. The main elements of the Framework include development and management of a logistics platform, including a digital ecosystem, and provision of supply chain services to handle all types of general cargo, bulk, containers and liquid bulk in order to enable IMEEC. This will be the first agreement under the IMEEC initiative, launched on the side-lines of G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi.

The leaders welcomed the MoU to jointly explore, assess and evaluate investment cooperation in the digital infrastructure sector. This MoU was signed by the Ministry of Investment of the UAE and the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology of the Republic of India and focuses on creating strong and effective collaboration by building relationships between public and private organisations in the UAE and India. It aims to explore and evaluate the possibility of establishing a supercomputer cluster in India and data centre projects in India.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi thanked President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the warm hospitality extended to him and the Indian delegation.

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Indian Prime Minister Modi’s Visit to Washington Is His Most Important So Far. Here’s What to Know

O n Thursday, U.S. President Joe Biden will meet India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on an official state visit in Washington D.C, which includes a South Lawn welcome, a state dinner, and an address to a joint session of Congress—an honor rarely granted to a visiting foreign leader. Modi will become just the third world leader, after France’s Emmanuel Macron and South Korea’s Yoon Suk Yeol, to receive this kind of diplomatic reception from President Biden.

While Modi has visited the U.S. many times—most recently for a three-day visit in September 2021, where he held a bilateral meeting with Biden—this will be the first time the Prime Minister’s trip will be categorized as the highest ranked visit according to diplomatic protocol. (The last state visit to the U.S. by an Indian leader was by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in November 2009.)

As India takes center stage as the world’s most populous country , one of the fastest growing economies, and a powerhouse for tech and innovation, the Biden Administration hopes it can court the country as a crucial ally to counter China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

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“The visit will strengthen our two countries’ shared commitment to a free, open, prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific and our shared resolve to elevate our strategic technology partnership, including in defense, clean energy, and space,” the White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement .

Below, what to know about the upcoming visit.

What are the top priorities for Modi’s state visit?

The state visit will include conversations aimed at further cementing an already-growing defense and manufacturing relationship between the U.S. and India. More recently, Washington and New Delhi have been engaged in discussions about jointly producing jet engines, long-range artillery, and military vehicles. In May, India joined Biden’s 14-member Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, which primarily aims to reduce China’s economic dominance through manufacturing, but without drawing up a formal trade agreement. Now, American company General Electric is hoping to co-produce military jets in the country, while the U.S. has increased investment in a semiconductor and chip manufacturing ecosystem set in India as a way to decrease dependence on Chinese manufacturing.

“The United States has really oriented a lot of its domestic and foreign policy around this question of, ‘how do we counter the Chinese challenge?’” says Milan Vaishnav, director of the South Asia Program at Carnegie. “So if you think about semiconductors and chip manufacturing, India is a big player right now.”

In the weeks leading up to Modi’s visit, both the U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan have also made trips to New Delhi in an attempt to cut through the red tape to secure deals.

Read More: What Modi’s Visit to Washington Tells Us About Indian American Voters

This week, Reuters reported that India was inching closer to buying more than two dozen U.S.-made armed drones worth $2 to $3 billion to help enhance border surveillance and improve counterterrorism intelligence operations. The development comes after Sullivan, along with India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, unveiled an ambitious roadmap for Indo-U.S. collaboration in specific high-technology areas, including semiconductors, next-generation telecommunication, artificial intelligence and defense.

For India, striking deals with the U.S. will in turn strengthen the country’s hard power capabilities and make it a hotbed for innovation. “They are hoping to get more U.S. dollars, more U.S. companies, and more U.S. entrepreneurs to make India a central part of their growth and expansion plans,” says Vaishnav.

Why do the U.S. and India want to counter China?

Experts say both countries see their strategic interests converge in countering China’s threat as it becomes more expansionist and ambitious on the global stage. For the U.S., China has increasingly become its biggest competitor in the spheres of influence, while India has been embroiled in territorial disputes in the Himalayas ever since it fought a brief war with China in 1962.

In 2020, tensions between India and China flared when Beijing became more assertive over land claims along the shared Himalayan border and an altercation between Indian and Chinese military forces in the northern Indian region of Ladakh reportedly left 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers dead. China’s close ties to Pakistan has also resulted in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as part of the Belt and Road Initiative and controversially passes through a section of Kashmir controlled by Islamabad, adding to India’s concerns.

By helping India build up its economic and defense capabilities, Washington hopes to coordinate with New Delhi to tackle global challenges as part of its long-term interests, says Vaishnav. “Washington is really looking to create a framework of deterrence to essentially deter Chinese expansionism, and they view India as a linchpin in this strategy,” he says.

How has the relationship between India and the U.S. changed?

Relations between India and the U.S. have changed in notable ways over the years. After independence from British rule in 1947, India was more closely aligned with Russia during the Cold War era due to U.S. distrust and estrangement over India’s nuclear program, while the U.S. had a stronger partnership with India’s rival, Pakistan.

The two countries remained “estranged democracies,” according to the former U.S. Ambassador, Dennis Kux, until the early 1990s. However, since the early 2000s, U.S. administrations from Bill Clinton to Donald Trump have worked to build a strong relationship with India, recognizing its potential to be a strategic partner in ensuring the security of the Indo-Pacific region.

In 2005, India and the U.S. signed a major nuclear deal under which India was recognized de facto as a nuclear weapons power. More recently, India’s participation in the Quad, a security alliance between the U.S. and its allies, Australia, Japan and India, has led to the country becoming a critical element of American defense strategy.

Last year, the two countries conducted joint military exercises not far from the disputed Indo-China border, and in May, joined Biden’s 14-member Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, which officials and business executives hope will reduce American reliance on Chinese manufacturing for mutual benefit, including increased iPhone shipments from Indian-based factories.

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Write to Astha Rajvanshi at [email protected]

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List of countries visited by Narendra Modi for the first time ever as Indian Prime Minister

Prime minister narendra modi has made a deep impact on the world stage..

As PM embarks on his visit to France, here is a look at countries where Narendra Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister ever to visit.

Mongolia: Narendra Modi was the first-ever Indian Prime Minister to visit Mongolia in May 2015. During his visit, various agreements were signed between both nations. 

Palestine:  PM Modi visited Palestine in February 2018, the first for any Indian Prime Minister. During his visit, he signed six agreements worth around $50 million that includes setting up of a $30 million super speciality hospital in Beit Sahur. He was also conferred the highest civilian award of Palestine, the Grand Collar of the State of Palestine.

Rwanda: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Rwanda visit in July 2018 was the first visit to the East African country by any Indian Prime Minister. He held a bilateral meeting with the President of Rwanda and also met the business community. The PM visited the Genocide Memorial and participated in an event on "Girinka” (one cow per family), a national social protection scheme of Rwanda personally initiated by President Paul Kagame.

Israel: In the year 2017, Narendra Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel. During the visit, seven MoUs were signed. 

Bahrain:  PM Modi visited the Kingdom of Bahrain in August 2019. This was the first-ever Prime Ministerial visit from India to the Kingdom. PM Modi held talks with Prime Minister His Royal Highness Prince Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and other leaders. He also interacted with the Indian diaspora.

Papua New Guinea: Prime Minister Modi was the Indian leader to visit Papua New Guinea. He visited the world's third-largest island country in May 2023. 

List of nations Indian PM visited after a long time 

Fiji: In 2014 November, PM Modi visited Fiji. He became the first Indian head of government to visit Fiji after 33 years, after Indira Gandhi's visit in 1981. During his maiden visit, the PM attended a 'Forum for India-Pacific Island Cooperation' along with leaders from all 14 Pacific island nations. He was conferred with the highest honour of Fiji. PM Modi was conferred with the "The Companion of the Order of Fiji" in recognition of his global leadership.

Seychelles: In March 2015, PM Modi visited Seychelles, thus becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to travel to Seychelles in 33 years, after Indira Gandhi. Modi's visit to Seychelles was part of his "Indian Ocean outreach" programme.

Mozambique: PM Narendra Modi visited Mozambique in 2016. This was the first prime ministerial visit from India to Mozambique after the visit of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1982.

Sweden:  PM Modi visited Sweden in April 2018. This is the first visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Sweden in 30 years. PM Modi, during his bilateral visit to Sweden, held productive talks with Swedish PM Stefan Lofven. PM Modi interacted with leading business leaders. The PM also met His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden. 

UAE: In August 2015, PM Modi visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He was the first Indian Prime Minister in 34 years to visit the UAE. Indira Gandhi was the last Indian Prime Minister to have made a trip to the country in 1981.

Ireland:  PM Modi made a stopover in Ireland in 2015, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in around 60 years. Jawaharlal Nehru was the last Indian Prime Minister to visit Ireland in 1956. 

Turkmenistan:  Modi was the second Indian PM to visit Turkmenistan in 2015 after PV Narasimha Rao. PM Modi visited Turkmenistan and other central Asian countries following his visit to Russia for the BRICS summit.

Jordan: PM Modi visited Jordan in 2018, making it the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 30 years. Rajiv Gandhi visited the nation in 1988. PM Modi held a meeting with Prime Minister Hani Al-Mulki and King Abdullah II of Jordan.

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Defense deals and tech ties underpin modi’s visit to washington..

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“My dream is that in 2020, the two closest nations in the world will be India and the United States,” then-Sen. Joe Biden said on a visit to New Delhi in 2006. They may not be quite there yet, but Biden is doing everything to ensure they end up much closer—especially economically and militarily—after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits next week.

Washington is rolling out the red carpet for Modi, hosting him for a state dinner, the Biden administration’s third such visit after welcoming French President Emmanuel Macron and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol within the past year. Modi will also address a joint session of Congress, his second time doing so as Indian prime minister.

It’s not just pomp and symbolism, however. The United States wants to bring India deeper into its manufacturing and defense orbit, with the added benefit of helping wean New Delhi’s military off Russia and U.S. supply chains off China. Although both sides have been tight-lipped on planned announcements, a number of expected agreements on semiconductor chips and fighter jet engines have been in the works for months, bolstered by visits to New Delhi by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in the weeks leading up to Modi’s trip. This week, the two sides reportedly sealed a deal for India to buy more than two dozen American drones.

“While I will not spill the beans, I can tell you that the ceremonial and substantive parts of the visit will fully complement each other and will be unparalleled,” Taranjit Singh Sandhu, India’s ambassador to Washington, said at a recent event.

The India-U.S. relationship hasn’t always been smooth sailing, and potential frictions remain, but the two countries have increasingly zeroed in on an arena where they can achieve symbiosis. “If you ask me what I would bet on the most, what is that one force multiplier for this relationship, it is tech,” Sandhu said. “It is the master key to unlock the real potential in the relationship.”

Officials from both sides have spent months laying the groundwork—and acronyms. An initiative on critical and emerging technology ( iCET ), launched in late January by Sullivan and his Indian counterpart, Ajit Doval, commits to cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, space exploration, semiconductors, and defense technology. There has been more movement on the last two in particular: U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal inked a bilateral semiconductor supply chain partnership in New Delhi in March, while Austin’s visit to New Delhi earlier this month yielded INDUS-X, or the India-U.S. Defense Acceleration Ecosystem, described by the Pentagon as a “new initiative to advance cutting-edge technology cooperation” between the two militaries.

The most significant developments are likely to take place on the defense front, particularly if recent discussions on jointly producing jet engines, long-range artillery, and military vehicles come to fruition next week, product of a yearslong rapprochement on sharing defense technology with India. “This is not just manufacturing in India, this is genuine tech transfer,” said Rudra Chaudhuri, director of New Delhi-based think tank Carnegie India. “That’s a big deal.”

In some ways, it is an opportunity for a marriage of convenience. About half of India’s military equipment is Russian-made, and although New Delhi has spent years trying to diversify that supply, Russia’s protracted war in Ukraine has increased the urgency of finding new bedfellows. Washington sees an opening.

“The one relationship which the U.S. has traditionally been wary of in closer defense ties with India has been the India-Russia partnership,” said Aparna Pande, director of the India Initiative at the Hudson Institute. “This is one chance where if India can be weaned away because of a lack of supply parts, problematic equipment, or Russia getting closer to China, [you can] maybe convince India to purchase more from the United States and U.S. partners and allies.”

China is another major source of mutual concern pushing Washington and New Delhi closer together. India’s relationship with China deteriorated earlier and far more dramatically, with military clashes on their shared border leading to an Indian purge of Chinese technology (including, notably, a TikTok ban) nearly three years ago. Chinese naval expansion into the Indian Ocean has also spooked India and reinforced the importance of the so-called Quad group of countries. The United States and its allies, meanwhile, are urgently trying to reorient and “ friendshore ” global tech supply chains to reduce dependence on China, which has spent years establishing itself as the world’s factory floor.

India presents a ready replacement in many ways, much of it stemming from its new status as the world’s most populous country. That means a large (and youthful) labor force, millions of whom are skilled engineers, and relatively low manufacturing costs that the Modi government is further bolstering with tax incentives under its signature “Make in India” program. Like China, India’s sheer size also presents a huge potential domestic market for U.S. companies, an advantage over other alternatives such as Vietnam and Mexico. If for decades dollars and cents determined the landscape of global technology production, geopolitics have become supreme.

“There’s a sense of Balkanization taking place” in the global tech supply chain, said Mukesh Aghi, CEO of the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum, a Washington-based business advocacy group. “Geopolitical stress points are driving the tech agenda.”

There are still hurdles that need to be overcome, including India’s history of protectionism and red tape that has burned U.S. companies in the past and made it difficult to create the kind of manufacturing infrastructure required to rival what China has built. One large semiconductor push, a $19 billion joint venture between Indian conglomerate Vedanta and Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn, has reportedly already been stymied by a denial of government incentives.

And while companies will ultimately have to vote with their checkbooks, Biden and Modi are sending nothing but boosterish signals.

“Remember the old saying that trade follows the flag—I think the two governments are waving the flag very mightily to show which direction industry and business ought to be going,” said Atul Keshap, a former diplomat who heads the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-India Business Council. “The two governments tried for a long time to figure out what government-to-government interaction would look like, and now I think they’re realizing the value of letting the private sector collaborate,” he added.

But one casualty of the Modi visit and his newfound status will likely be U.S. willingness to call out concerns about the health of India’s democracy, at least publicly. The Biden administration has been increasingly reluctant to call out Modi’s crackdowns on free speech and violence against minorities, and experts say the strategic imperatives are too great to afford antagonizing a vital partnership.

“There is a desire to emphasize the strategic and the national security imperative over the domestic imperative,” Pande said. “In the current context, India is important, and so what the U.S. is preferring to do is convey a lot of what it wants to say in private and not in public.”

Rishi Iyengar is a reporter at  Foreign Policy . Twitter:  @Iyengarish

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PM Modi made 36 foreign visits in 5 years with objective to foster closer relations: Govt

Visual Stories

British academic Nitasha Kaul has long researched the changing social and political landscape in India.

It's led her to a dire conclusion about the world's most populous democracy.

"What we're witnessing post-2014 is a democratic erosion in India — that is undeniable," Professor Kaul told the ABC.

More than 950 million Indians are eligible to vote in this year's general election which began last week , and is held in seven phases until June 1.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to easily win a third term in office after first coming to power in 2014.

But ahead of the critical poll, Professor Kaul was shocked when she was barred from entering the country.

In February, she was detained and then deported after being invited to speak at a conference on the country's constitution, despite holding a valid lifelong visa.

She said no reason had ever been given for the decision.

"If you are critical of a political project, or a political party or their policies, it should be very straightforward that you're not against the country," she said.

"What … these kinds of actions do is label people as anti-national for being critical of a party or of its policies or a leader."

Professor Kaul held an Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) card.

Indian citizens can only hold one passport, but the OCI card acts as a lifelong visa, allowing foreign nationals of Indian origin to reside and work in India.

Professor Kaul's experience isn't an isolated one.

Research by the pro-democracy group Article 14 found at least 102 people have had their OCI cards revoked since 2014 under a clause of the country's citizenship laws.

The clause allows the government to cancel an OCI for several reasons, including if they have "shown disaffection towards the Constitution of India".

A Human Rights Watch report found several high-profile academics — who had published research critical of Indian government policy, Mr Modi or had commented on big issues affecting the country — were among those barred from entering India.

The report noted that in addition to cancelling OCI cards, the Indian government downgraded the privileges of 4.5 million OCI cardholders in 2021.

That move meant they needed to seek special permission to carry out tasks like research and journalism or visit areas in India listed as "protected".

Reducing public debate in India

Professor Kaul is the chair of the Centre for the Study of Democracy at the University of Westminster and has written extensively on how India's political landscape has changed since Mr Modi came to power.

She has also written about rising authoritarianism in the country.

After going public about her experience, she said other academics expressed concern their work would be a barrier to them getting home to see family.

She said the government's aim was to ultimately reduce the size of the public sphere in which to debate policy and publish academic work.

"This is a classic kind of authoritarian thing to be doing," she said.

Professor Kaul also received "violent, vicious, extremist, misogynistic, graphic sexual trolling" and death threats online.

"The idea for people who do that to people who are in the public domain is to try and intimidate and silence them," she said.

At the time Professor Kaul was denied entry, India's Ministry of External Affairs said "entry of foreign nationals into our country is a sovereign decision".

'Grossly unfair' 

London-based writer and activist Amrit Wilson's OCI card was cancelled two years ago.

She was born in India but moved to the United Kingdom when she was in her 20s, keeping close ties to her home nation.

Ms Wilson said the government attributed the cancellation to an article she wrote about protesting Indian farmers  and a social media post about the Muslim-majority region of Kashmir.

She's challenging the cancellation.

"It seemed grossly unfair," Ms Wilson told the ABC.

"The government can't handle dissent of any type. It locks dissenters up and if they're abroad it tries to target them in other ways."

The Indian government was contacted for comment on why it was cancelling OCIs. 

Opposition MPs have been arrested , protesters have been detained and internet shutdowns have targeted anti-government commentary in the lead-up to the national election. 

Reporters Without Borders ranked India 161st of 180 countries and territories in its latest World Press Freedom Index.

Human Rights Watch's Asia director Elaine Pearson said other countries should hold India to account.

"These governments should press the Modi administration to interact with its critics to bring about reform, instead of intimidating them into silence," Ms Pearson said.

Rising Hindu nationalism

Mr Modi's grip on political power is intricately connected with religion and a rising anti-Muslim sentiment in India.

India is still officially a secular nation, and while Hinduism is the biggest religion, the country is home to 200 million Muslims.

Despite that, Mr Modi hasn't hidden his Hindu nationalist ideals.

In January, he inaugurated a Hindu temple built on the site of a demolished mosque, delivering on one of his earlier poll promises.

His government has also moved to enact a law that fast-tracks naturalisation for people who have fled from religious persecution in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan but excludes Muslims from those countries.

In 2019, he stripped the Muslim-majority region Kashmir of its special status, bringing it under Delhi's control.

Ms Wilson said there was a concerted attack on Muslims, aiding the government and Mr Modi's political agenda.

"Modi plays to the Hindu majority by creating a fear of Muslims," she said.

"He concocts all kinds of lies about the Muslim population, and people do fall for it."

Last week, India's main opposition party accused Mr Modi of using hate speech after he called Muslims "infiltrators" at an election rally .

Mr Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party denies accusations of fostering religious intolerance and says its policies benefit all Indians.

India Hate Lab, a website tracking hate speech in India, found a steep rise in hate speech targeting Muslims in the second half of 2023. 

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Modi Calls Muslims ‘Infiltrators’ Who Would Take India’s Wealth

The direct language used against the country’s largest minority was a contrast to the image Prime Minister Narendra Modi presents on the world stage.

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By Alex Travelli and Suhasini Raj

Reporting from New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called Muslims “infiltrators” who would take India’s wealth if his opponents gained power — unusually direct and divisive language from a leader who normally lets others do the dirtiest work of polarizing Hindus against Muslims.

Mr. Modi, addressing voters in the state of Rajasthan, referred to a remark once made by Manmohan Singh, his predecessor from the opposition Indian National Congress Party. Mr. Singh, Mr. Modi claimed, had “said that Muslims have the first right to the wealth of the nation. This means they will distribute this wealth to those who have more children, to infiltrators.”

Mr. Modi aimed his emotional appeal at women, addressing “my mothers and sisters” to say that his Congress opponents would take their gold and give it to Muslims.

Modi Calls Muslims ‘Infiltrators’ in Speech During India Elections

Prime minister narendra modi of india was criticized by the opposition for remarks he made during a speech to voters in rajasthan state..

I’m sorry, this is a very disgraceful speech made by the prime minister. But, you know, the fact is that people realize that when he says the Congress Party is going to take all your wealth and give it to the Muslims, that this is just a nakedly communal appeal which normally any civilized election commission would disallow and warn the candidate for speaking like this.

Implications like these — that Muslims have too many babies, that they are coming for Hindus’ wives and daughters, that their nationality as Indian is itself in doubt — are often made by representatives of Mr. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, or B.J.P.

Mr. Modi’s use of such language himself, as he campaigns for a third term in office, raised alarm that it could inflame right-wing vigilantes who target Muslims , and brought up questions about what had prompted his shift in communication style. Usually, Mr. Modi avoids even using the word “Muslims,” coyly finding ways to refer indirectly to India’s largest minority group, of 200 million people.

Mallikarjun Kharge, the president of the Congress party, called Mr. Modi’s remarks “hate speech.” Asaduddin Owaisi, who represents the only national party for Muslims, lamented how “common Hindus are made to fear Muslims while their wealth is being used to enrich others.”

Tom Vadakkan, a spokesman for the B.J.P., said that Mr. Modi’s speech was being misinterpreted. “This is not about our compatriots, the Muslims,” he said. Mr. Modi was talking only about “infiltrators,” according to Mr. Vadakkan.

The prime minister’s fiery oration, delivered in 100-degree heat in the town of Banswara in arid Rajasthan, marked a contrast to the image he presents in international contexts.

During a visit to the White House in June, Mr. Modi said there was “no question of discrimination” in India. When he played host to the Group of 20 summit in New Delhi three months later, he chose the theme “the world is one family”(in Sanskrit, the primary liturgical language of orthodox Hinduism).

He put his own face on soft-power outreach programs like World Yoga Day, broadcast to Times Square, using it to present a Hindu-centric India as a benign “teacher to the world.”

Campaigns that divide Hindus and Muslims can be useful in animating the hard-right Hindu base of Mr. Modi’s otherwise broad-based electorate, especially in places like Banswara, where Hindus outnumber Muslims by three to one.

With his remarks, Mr. Modi may have been trying to close a divide that has opened among Hindus in Rajasthan over whether to support the B.J.P., with one prominent group holding protests over comments made by a party official.

But the prime minister’s speech was also clearly intended for a wider audience; he shared a clip on his official social media channels.

The B.J.P. remains the favorite to win another parliamentary majority when six weeks of voting concludes on June 1 and ballots are counted three days later. Mr. Kharge, the Congress party president, called Mr. Modi’s speech — perhaps hopefully — a sign of desperation, adding that opposition candidates must be faring well in the early stages of balloting.

Neerja Chowdhury, a columnist and the author of “How Prime Ministers Decide,” echoed Mr. Kharge, saying that, in her view, “voters are expressing their dissatisfaction much more openly this time.” The B.J.P. is capable of a swift course correction, she added, because “they get feedback very quickly.”

Rahul Gandhi, the public face of the Congress party , said that Mr. Modi’s comments had been intended as a diversion from subjects that trouble ordinary voters, like joblessness and inflation.

That the prime minister alluded to religion at all in his speech drew complaints that he may have violated India’s election rules.

Candidates are supposed to be barred from asking for votes in the name of religion or caste. But B.J.P. leaders regularly invoke Hindu deities during campaign rallies. The country’s Election Commission, which enforces the rules, has taken little action against the party, even as it has moved against members of other parties in similar cases.

Uddhav Thackeray, a former ally of Mr. Modi’s who is now running against the B.J.P., declared that he would now ignore an Election Commission order to remove the word “Hindu” from his own party’s campaign song.

The basis for Mr. Modi’s attack was a 22-second excerpt from a statement that Mr. Singh, a Sikh economist who was the prime minister before Mr. Modi, made in 2006. Mr. Singh had been listing many of the traditionally disadvantaged groups in India, including lower-caste Hindus and tribal populations, and “in particular the Muslim community,” and said that all should share equitably in the nation’s wealth.

Since Mr. Modi took office in 2014, Muslims haven’t had a proportional share of India’s steady economic and social development . Just one of the 430 candidates the B.J.P. is fielding in the current election is Muslim.

Mr. Singh’s speech from 2006 seems old now, but it was made just four years after riots in the state of Gujarat under the watch of Mr. Modi. Hindus and Muslims hacked and burned one another and at least 1,000 died, most of them Muslims.

An earlier version of this article misstated the number of Muslim candidates that the B.J.P. is fielding in India’s current election. It is one, not zero.

How we handle corrections

Alex Travelli is a correspondent for The Times based in New Delhi, covering business and economic matters in India and the rest of South Asia. He previously worked as an editor and correspondent for The Economist. More about Alex Travelli

Suhasini Raj is a reporter based in New Delhi who has covered India for The Times since 2014. More about Suhasini Raj

‘Infiltrators’: Modi accused of anti-Muslim hate speech amid India election

The Indian PM turned to old anti-Muslim tropes in an election rally, potentially signalling a shift in his campaign strategy, say analysts.

New Delhi, India — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is facing accusations of spreading hatred against Muslims after controversial comments on Sunday wherein he equated the community to “infiltrators” and peddled anti-Muslim tropes in the middle of the country’s general elections.

Speaking at a crowded rally in the western state of Rajasthan, Modi said if the opposition led by the Congress party came to power, it would distribute the country’s wealth among “those who have more children”, in an apparent reference to Muslims, whom he had spoken about just before.

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“Should your hard-earned money be given to infiltrators?” he said to the cheering crowd, before alleging that the opposition would take away even mangalsutras — the auspicious necklace that a husband ties around his wife’s neck in Hindu weddings — if given a chance.

Local poll officials in Rajasthan confirmed to Al Jazeera that they had received at least two complaints against Modi, calling for his election campaign to be suspended and for his arrest.

Renu Poonia, a nodal officer of the Election Commission of India (ECI) in the state capital, Jaipur, revealed that the complaints were received from the Azad Adhikar Sena, a regional political party, and a local non-profit organisation. India’s election code bars parties and politicians from engaging in speeches and campaigns that aim to perpetuate religious or caste differences. But independent watchdogs and activists have long complained that election officials act too slowly, if at all, especially when cases involve powerful officials in the government.

Many leaders in Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies in India’s Hindu-majoritarian right have long portrayed the country’s 200 million Muslims effectively as outsiders. Muslim asylum seekers and refugees from Bangladesh and Myanmar are in particular targeted as “infiltrators”.

The BJP and its partners have also long pushed a conspiracy theory that suggests that Indian Muslims produce more children intending to eventually outnumber Hindus in the country. In reality, government data shows that the Muslim fertility rate in India is dropping the fastest among all communities and has almost halved in the past three decades.

Modi has himself promoted this stereotype — in 2002, after an anti-Muslim massacre in the state of Gujarat, where he served terms as chief minister — infamously mocking relief camps as baby-producing factories.

Yet, in recent years, while others in his party and its coalition partners have often engaged in open Islamophobic commentary and even violence, Modi has focused on his government’s claimed accomplishments in the fields of the economy and social development. That had been the principal thrust of his 2024 re-election campaign too.

Asim Ali, a political commentator, said Modi’s remarks were “the most inflammatory statement by a sitting prime minister in the recent history of India” and marked a significant shift in his election pitch. India is poised to vote in the second of seven phases of its national election on Friday, April 26. The first phase of voting was held on April 19.

“Five years ago, the question was why is Modi not reigning in extremist voices; now, PM Modi is the most extremist campaigner,” said Ali.

‘Unconscious comment’ or ‘true nature’?

In his speech, Modi said he was referring to the Congress election manifesto, which promises wealth redistribution amid growing concerns over inequality, and to past statements by the opposition party.

“When they [the Congress] were in power, they said Muslims have first right over resources. They will gather all your wealth and distribute it among those who have more children,” Modi said.

In 2006, then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of the Congress had said India’s traditionally marginalised communities, including castes that had faced historical discrimination and religious minorities, “particularly Muslims”, should have the first claim on the nation’s resources. Singh’s comment had followed a report by a government-appointed panel under a former judge that had found that the social, economic and educational conditions of Indian Muslims were worse than those of any caste or community.

Modi’s comments, some analysts and common Muslims said, could instigate hate-fuelled violence against Muslims — already a problem that has skyrocketed under the current government’s decade-long reign.

“The PM might have said it as a jibe against the Congress, but eventually this will further perpetuate the stereotype of Muslims as a problem, and not an asset for India,” said Zeyad Masroor Khan, journalist and author of City on Fire, a book on an anti-Muslim riot in Aligarh in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. The comments might “even promote acts of violence against Muslims”, he said.

Khan said the shift in campaign messaging “exposes the true nature of Modi”.

Sandeep Shastri, the national coordinator of the New Delhi-based Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) research programme Lokniti Network, said he hoped Modi’s comments were a slip — and not a conscious change in campaign strategy. According to CSDS polling, the BJP holds a comfortable 12 percent vote advantage over the principal opposition alliance.

“I do not think that the ground situation warranted any rashness from Modi,” said Shastri, adding that he was personally “disappointed” by the statement. “It could have been an unconscious comment – made in the rush of the moment or excitement of campaign,” Shastri added, referring to Modi’s assertion, after he won the 2019 election, that he would work for all Indians. Against that backdrop, comments like Sunday’s “are best avoided”, he said.

“If the intention is what the speech suggests, it is a matter of huge alarm.”

‘Scared to go to the market’

Ashfaq Hussain, a 35-year-old contractor in Rajasthan, is not waiting for any clarification from Modi or the BJP about Sunday’s comments. He said he has seen enough.

Hussain was sitting with his teenage son when a snippet of Modi’s speech popped up on his smartphone. He scrolled the feed quickly, he said. “Our PM is using language like ‘infiltrators’ for us. I feel ashamed and it is gutting,” he told Al Jazeera.

Rajasthan has witnessed a series of anti-Muslim hate crimes in recent years, including lynchings.

“[Modi’s speech] endangers my family’s safety and further divides our society by erasing the historical brotherhood.”

“I’m scared to even go to the market alone in the evening; people call names and try to instigate, which then can anytime turn into a lynching,” Hussain said.

BJP national spokesperson Zafar Islam said Modi’s comments were being misinterpreted.

“We need to get this in right context. In the past, a lot of people have come from outside and have now mixed in the society and using resources,” he said, suggesting that Modi was referring to foreign nationals illegal in India, and not Indian Muslims, while speaking of “infiltrators”.

Islam claimed that Indian Muslims had benefited from government schemes under Modi and that opposition parties relied on scaremongering to get religious minorities to vote for them.

But the Congress party chief, Mallikarjun Kharge, said Modi’s “hate speech” was “a deliberate ploy to divert attention”.

Ali, the political commentator, agreed. The opposition has been focusing on the need for a caste census — an enumeration of the populations of different castes in India. The Congress claims this would show how disadvantaged castes have been denied adequate affirmative action. “To respond to the opposition, textbook politics say you need a scapegoat; and for the BJP, it has been Muslims,” he said.

The speech was also worrying, Ali said, because of Modi’s attempt to portray Muslims as dangerous to the very identity of Hindus.

“Mangalsutras are considered sacred – it was a deeply psychological attack that gives a sense that Muslims will endanger your private, domestic space,” said Ali.

“This is a very dangerous moment for Indian politics.”