As India and the US wrapped up several major defence deals on Thursday, taking the ties between the two countries to new heights, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to his critics in the USA by insisting that there is no discrimination on the basis of religion or caste in India. He stressed the country is run on the basis of the constitution and strong fundamentals of democracy, which is in its DNA.
Modi made this categorical assertion in Washington when asked about the status of religious minorities, including Muslims, during a media interaction after the summit with President Joe Biden. He also said that relations with the US are at a stage where “the sky is not the limit,” as he mentioned in the joint press conference with Blinken.
“We are a democracy... India and America both have democracy in our DNA. Democracy is in our spirit, and we live it. It’s written in our Constitution. So, no question of discrimination on the grounds of caste, creed, or religion arises. That is why India believes in ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas, sabka prayaas’ and walks ahead with it,” Modi said when asked about steps the Government is willing to take to improve the rights of minorities in the country.
Modi also said that the two countries discussed the entire spectrum of issues relating to their bilateral relations and the ongoing Ukraine crisis. He reiterated that India has always maintained that peace and dialogue are the way out to resolve the conflict and that the country is ready to do its part in restoring peace.
Highlighting the growing defence ties between the two countries, Modi said the focus has shifted from a buyer-seller relationship to joint production and development of weapon systems. He also welcomed the move to manufacture GE-414 jet engines in India, describing it as a landmark agreement that will also provide jobs.
Brushing aside apparent apprehensions of human rights violations in India, Modi stated that democracy in the country is based on respecting human values and human rights.
The PM said that India and the US have “overwhelming respect” for each other because “we are democracies, and it is in the US and India’s DNAs to expand democratic institutions.”
When asked about religious minorities and dissent by a US reporter, Modi said, “Regardless of caste, creed, religion, gender, there’s absolutely no space for discrimination.” He also emphasised that resources and benefits are available to all, irrespective of caste, creed, religion, or gender, adding that there is no discrimination.
Biden said he discussed the issue of human rights in a straightforward manner with Prime Minister Modi, adding that democracy is in the DNA of both countries. He went on to add, “So, I am really surprised when people say so (discrimination against minorities). India is a real democracy,” he said, adding there is no space for discrimination in a democracy, and India believes in moving forward by taking everyone along.
Answering a question on the effects of climate change, Modi said, “We do not believe in the exploitation of nature. Of all the G20 countries, India is the only country that has fulfilled all the promises made during the G20 Summit. We are working to make India a green energy hub.... The environment is an article of faith for us. We do not believe in the exploitation of nature.”
Meanwhile, underlining some other issues discussed during the summit, the Prime Minister said that the two countries also agreed on the Artemis accord on space and remarked that “the sky is not the limit” in their relationship.
Additionally, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have agreed to collaborate on a joint mission to the International Space Station in 2024.
The Artemis Accords, rooted in the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, provide a framework of non-binding principles to guide space exploration and utilisation in the 21st century. Led by the US, the Artemis program aims to return humans to the moon by 2025, with the ultimate objective of expanding space exploration to Mars and beyond.
The official said NASA and the ISRO are developing a strategic framework for human spaceflight cooperation this year.
In addition, NASA and ISRO have agreed to a joint mission to the International Space Station in the year 2024, said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“On advanced computing, artificial intelligence, and quantum information science, India and the United States have first established a joint Indo-US quantum coordination mechanism that will facilitate more collaboration between our industries, academia, and government,” said the official.
They have also signed a new implementation arrangement on artificial intelligence, advanced wireless, and quantum technologies. The US on an Economic Development Consortium is now welcoming into its membership Indian Quantum universities and entities as well.
On advanced telecommunications, the two countries are working together on 5G and 6G technologies, including Open Radio Access Network (RAN) systems. “Here we’ll be announcing partnerships on Open RAN, field trials, and rollouts, including scale deployments in both countries with operators and vendors of both markets. This will involve backing from the US International Development Finance for cooperation and to promote the deployments in India,” the official said.
In his joint statement with Biden, Modi said the deal signed between GE Aerospace and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to produce fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force was a “landmark agreement.”
Earlier, GE Aerospace announced that it had inked a pact with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to jointly produce fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Mk-II, Tejas. The deal is worth three billion dollars.
“The agreement includes the potential joint production of GE Aerospace’s F414 engines in India, and GE Aerospace continues to work with the US government to receive the necessary export authorization for this,” the US firm said in a statement in Washington.
It described the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the HAL as a “key element” in strengthening defense cooperation between India and the US. “This is a historic agreement made possible by our longstanding partnership with India and HAL,” said H. Lawrence Culp Jr., Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of GE and CEO of GE Aerospace.
The two sides also decided to open more consulates of their respective countries in each other’s nations. Modi mentioned that the US will open its consulates in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad.
The US President reiterated the “overwhelming respect between the US and India” when questioned about Democrats pressuring him to raise the issue of human rights in India with PM Modi.
