India’s PM Modi Commences US Visit with Symbolic Yoga Session at UN Lawn

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated for a US visit this week, which is set to be filled with discussions concerning global tensions. However, he is starting his journey on Wednesday, focusing on inner peace, with a group yoga session at the United Nations’ north lawn.

Modi, after arriving in New York on Tuesday afternoon and following a series of private meetings, will commence his public agenda on Wednesday, by joining the group yoga event. U.N. General Assembly President Csaba Kőrösi, Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, and a host of diplomats and U.N. officials are expected at the session which commemorates the International Day of Yoga, an annual observation that Modi convinced the U.N. to designate in 2014.

This yoga-centric U.N. engagement portrays a strategic and symbolic decision by Modi, who has made this ancient practice both a personal lifestyle and a tool for diplomacy. Originating from Hindu sages, yoga has evolved into one of India’s leading cultural exports. Modi has actively championed it as a pragmatic means to extend India’s global influence.

Modi, a Hindu nationalist, presents himself as a disciplined ascetic who strictly adheres to his religion’s mandates on vegetarianism and yoga. He has often shared videos of his yoga practices on social media and was seen meditating in a Himalayan cave post the 2019 national elections.

During his previous U.N. visit for the 2021 General Assembly, Modi expressed concerns about the U.N.’s effectiveness on various issues including climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and terrorism. He emphasized India’s significant position in the global community, stating that “every sixth person in the world is Indian”. Since then, India has surpassed China as the world’s most populous country, boasting a population of 1.425 billion.

India has repeatedly expressed its desire for a permanent seat on the Security Council, the U.N.’s supreme body. India has been chosen for a two-year term several times, most recently for 2021-22.

Following the U.N. event, Modi is scheduled to travel to Washington for a three-day tour, which includes a meeting with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office, a joint congressional address, a White House state dinner, among others. His agenda also includes a State Department luncheon, hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris, of Indian descent, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The visit is significant as both nations aim to fortify their relations. The U.S. views India, also the world’s largest democracy, as a crucial ally in checking China’s aspirations in the Indo-Pacific. Conversely, India seeks to enhance military and trade ties with the U.S.

Despite this, human rights advocates are encouraging Biden to address human rights issues with Modi. The Indian PM has faced criticism for his policies on citizenship for migrants, the escalation in violence against religious minorities, and the recent conviction of India’s top opposition leader, Rahul Gandhi.

Nonetheless, the Indian government maintains its commitment to human rights and asserts that its democratic principles remain robust.

This report includes contributions from Big Big News writer Edith M. Lederer.

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