Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday charged up the US Congress by dwelling on several issues from growing India-US ties to poking fun at the often raucous nature of Indian and American politics to terrorism that is being "incubated in India’s neighbourhood". The American lawmakers interrupted his address to the joint sitting of the US Congress more than 40 times to cheer him, a few times by giving him a standing ovation.
"I am told the working of the US Congress is harmonious," he said, to waves of laughter from the lawmakers. "I have also been told that you are bipartisan. I also face something similar in Indian Parliament, especially in the Upper House," he said, to applause and mirth from the Congress, which has seen stormy scenes for years.
The lighthearted swipe aside, PM Modi also touched on a number of other facets of the India-US relationship. Invoking some of the biggest icons of US politics — the founding fathers, Abraham lincoln and Martin luther King Jr among others — he linked the US experience with democracy with India’s own journey as a modern nation state.
Asserting that the roots of democracy in India are strong, Modi acknowledged the democratic tradition in the US saying, "This temple (US Congress) of democracy has encouraged and empowered other democracies the world over." In the same breath, the PM said, "(Our) Constitution is our real holy book; freedom of faith, speech, franchise and equality of all citizens are fundamental rights."
With Pakistan obviously in mind, Modi pressed for action without making any distinction against groups like lashkar-e-Taiba, Taliban and ISIS who share the "same philosophy of hate, murder and killings". He said terrorism has to be fought with "one voice" as he commended the American Parliament for sending out a clear message by refusing to "reward" those who preach and practice terrorism for political gains, an apparent reference to the blocking of sale of 8 F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan.
In the course of his 45-minute speech, he covered all major aspects of the growing relationship between India and the US, particularly strategic ties and civil nuclear cooperation, and emphasised that the two countries should leave "constraints of the past" behind as the "foundations of the future are firmly in place".
Dressed in trademark white kurta pyjama and grey-coloured half-jacket, Modi underscored that both India and the US share the vision of peace and prosperity of the world, the Prime Minister said "globally, terrorism remains the biggest threat" and it must be fought at many levels" as the traditional tools of military, intelligence or diplomacy alone would not be able to win defeat it.
"Although its shadow is spreading across the world, it is incubated in India’s neighbourhood," he said an apparent reference to Pakistan.
He said the cooperation should be based on a policy that "isolates those who harbour, support and sponsor terrorists; that does not distinguish between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ terrorists; and that delinks religion from terrorism."
The Prime Minister noted that both the countries have lost civilians and soldiers in combating terrorism and highlighted how the US stood by India in the aftermath of terror attack in Mumbai in November 2008, which originated from Pakistan.
Observing that India-US "relationship is primed for a momentous future", the Prime Minister said a strong partnership between the two countries can anchor peace, prosperity and stability from Asia to Africa and from Indian Ocean to the Pacific.
Modi, who invoked Martin luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda and Atal Bihari Vajpayee in his speech, said India and the US, the world’s largest and oldest democracies, had learnt a lot from each other’s philosophies and practices, making them "natural allies". "As we deepen our partnership, there would be times when we would have differing perspectives. But, since our interests and concerns converge, the autonomy in decision-making and diversity in our perspectives can only add value to our partnership," he said, adding "So, as we embark on a new journey, and seek new goals, let us focus not just on matters routine but transformational ideas."
He said these ideas should focus "not just on creating wealth but also creating value for our societies; not just on immediate gains but also long term benefits; not just on sharing best practices but also shaping partnerships; and not just on building a bright future for our peoples, but in being a bridge to a more united, humane and prosperous world.
He used the occasion to pitch apparently for the UN reform as he said, "but the effectiveness of our cooperation would increase if international institutions, framed with the mindset of the 20th century, were to reflect the realities of today."