Modi comes full circle: Indian PM who was once accused by US of ‘complicity’ in Muslim massacre is now set to address Congress
Now, a welcome guest in Washington as he bonds with President Obama in his fourth visit to US since he took office in May 2014
After years of being denied entry to the United States, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become a welcome guest in Washington, forging a surprising bond with President Barack Obama and deepening ties with America.
A new defence agreement and a possible announcement on US investment in nuclear power in India could be in the cards on his latest visit. He will meet with Obama on Tuesday and have the honour of addressing a joint meeting of Congress on Wednesday.
Modi has shaken off allegations that he was complicit in anti-Muslim violence when he served as a top state official before becoming prime minister two years ago, but he could face pointed questions from lawmakers about India’s human rights record.
It will be his fourth visit to the US since his Hindu nationalist party swept elections in May 2014. Between 2005 and late 2013, during his tenure as chief minister of Gujarat, the US government avoided official contact with Modi over suspicions about his possible role in communal rioting that killed hundreds.
“He’s gone from someone who was basically a pariah to someone who is going to be celebrated by official Washington,” said Milan Vaishnav, an expert on South Asia at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.